"Not a Generic Gombey:" Art, Consumption, and Intellectual Property

The Gombeys of Bermuda love being seen and heard. But each of them are individuals, part of a troupe, part of a tradition. There is no such thing as a "Generic Gombey" to stand in for marketing, art, or commercialization of their sacred culture. In this short film presented by The Department of Culture and filmmaker Qian Dickinson, several Bermuda Gombeys speak about the challenges in seeing their image represented without compensation or permission. With a few small tweaks, even a registered design can be considered brand new work from someone outside of the culture and after so many years, copyright goes into public domain. They consider this an ethical challenge instead of a legal one. Instead, they invite entrepreneurs and artists to learn more and collaborate with them, as fellow artists, the men behind the masks.

[@steppinrzr8396]

Respect!

[@ayannadarrell2453]

I love this. Behind to MASK is a VERY GREAT documentary as well.

[@marionbotelho6831]

❤❤❤❤give me places places gombeys 😂😅, but I love them all.

[@bermudalive7862]

You can’t copyright an idea. Someone’s “likeness” can be guarded… that meaning their actual face. I think if you can patent or trademark an actual costume in it’s entirety you might have a leg to stand on… but there are many groups that use the same ideas in regards to costumes. For it to have a chance of working each group would have to have specific and unique style that differs from every other group… basically that horse is out of the barn in my opinion. All groups will have to start from scratch for it to make any sense

[@Remithegoat718]

Mr dneshelds came to my school and teched me gombeys it was fun if he sees it I’m remington