class ViewModel

def serialize_as_reference(target, json, serialize_context: new_serialize_context) 

def serialize_as_reference(target, json, serialize_context: new_serialize_context)
  if serialize_context.flatten_references
    serialize(target, json, serialize_context: serialize_context)
  else
    ref = serialize_context.add_reference(target)
    json.set!(REFERENCE_ATTRIBUTE, ref)
  end
end