Artifact #8: Remixing Google Image Search
Objectives:
- Become acquainted with copyright as a historic, cultural and economic paradigm and its value and pertinence to creative works.
- Explore the changing nature of copyright in the context of “Remix Culture” and the “Fifth World”
- Examine your own and others values and paradigms of ownership and authorship of cultural media.
- Evaluate the meanings of real and fake and examine their intersection with personal and cultural identity and authenticity.
Original Post:
Before you read my reflection I first ask you to watch this video that sheds some light into my world, the Remix Culture.
Reflection:
As technology continues to expand there are becoming more and more non-traditional artistic ways to express yourself and reveal your inspirations to the world. One of the ways people are starting to do this is through the world of remixing. As a current remixer myself I have to say I was very skeptical going into this discussion about the viability of everything that was being discussed. I figured it was going to have a skewed point of view which stated that remixers are thieves and piggyback off of other peoples work or something of that sort. However, once I started reading and diving into the course material I found the exact opposite to be true.The material was actually give life to my case. As I stated earlier I am a remixer myself and love to spend my free time taking songs slowing them down and giving them my own flare and posting them on youtube. Never did it occur to me that this could be viewed as stealing. I simply just wanted to be an artist and make music. After doing some research on some of the laws and rules about copyrights and what potential things can be done to you if you infringe on them I have become extremely worried. Technically my work could be viewed as copyright infringement because I’ve taken original songs and used them for my benefit by adding things to them. I honestly don’t know if I’m going to keep posting my pieces to youtube anymore because I don’t want to get in trouble. Lessig has good quote in his article Comparing Cultures that says, “Put simply, current copyright law supports the practice of the RO culture and opposes the practices of the RW culture”(97). The RW culture is what I thrive on. Its what motivates me. When I hear a song all I can think about is how can I make this better. If I’m only allowed to view music as “read only” how can I express myself? In short, copyrights as a historic, cultural and economic paradigm is hindering creativity our nations creativity. The remix culture is a movement of people who feel so passionately about music that they want to help improve it and give it their own artistical appeal. These remixers want to provide everyone with something they have never experienced before. Something they felt when listening to a piece, something they believe had to be done for the good of the song. This remix culture is a necessary quality to keep expanding our youths creativity and if we hinder this by putting copyrights blocks on them then how are our artists suppose to thrive?
In this artifact I was tasked with finding words that best describe what an artist is and look for images on Google and combine them to form a collage. The words that I have chosen were: purpose, feeling, values, beauty, free. These are the traits that I feel and value when I am making my music. I have a purpose. My feelings and values are expressed and I’m free to let my creativity take me wherever I want to go. Lessig says, “from the very beginning of human culture, we have taught our kids RW creativity. We taught them that is how to build upon the culture around us by making reference to that culture or criticizing it” (106). Remixing is my culture and one of the things that gives me motivation each day. Take this away from me and you take a piece of my soul and purpose. This is the difference between real and fake personal identities. Some people remix for the sake of money with no respect for the music at all. These people are fake. However, the people like me who remix for the sake of the music, these are the people who have the real identity and authenticity.
Future Goals:
One of my biggest and most important goals not only for the purpose of this course but for my life is to make a remix that inspires people. I want someone to watch my video or listen to my song and say “I want to do that, I want to be different, I want to change the world through my creativity”. If I can accomplish then all of the hours, all of the work, all of the time lost spent at the computer will have been worth it. This is my driving goal an artist and if I can inspire even 1 person then my inspiration will be fulfilled and complete.
Table of Contents
Artifact #1: Lindsey Vonn Out for the Olympics
Artifact#2: Life Values Assessment
Artifact#3: Food As Art
Artifact#4: Personal Adornment Discussion
Artifact #5: The Aesthetics of Horror
Artifact #6: Creative Spirituality Discussion
Artifact #7: Art, Games, and Technology Discussion
Artifact #8: Remixing Google Image Search