“Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy” is the reading in this week talks about “remix culture”, and the remix culture is defined as “a society that allows and encourages derivative works by combining or editing existing materials to produce a new product” on the Wikipedia.

In the reading, the author is mainly illustrates the differences between RO and RW in the beginning. Writer said that “One (RO) is fueled by professionals. The other (RW) is fueled by both professionals and amateurs” (Lessig, 2008). In the article, Lessig also concerns about the relationship between copyright and creativity. Some people think copyright block the growth of creativity. “Copyright law supports this control in the digital age because of a deceptively simple fact about the architecture of copyright law, and the architecture of digital technology” (Lessig, 2008) explained by author. For my perspective, I hold an opposite view point as the author about copyright. I think copyright doesn’t block the growth of creativity, On the contrary, it promotes the more original art work due to the regulations of the copyright law. If there isn’t copyright law, everyone can copy others’ work, there will be less creativity.

In the TED talk video “Laws That Choke Creativity”, it also introduces the RO and RW which are same as the article described. But it talks more about the influence of copyright, the speaker think that copyright law affects cultures and our lives. All in all, copyright is really important for human society.

 

Lessig, L. (2008). Comparing Cultures. Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy (pp. 84-116). New York: Penguin Press HC, The.

Wikipedia. Remix Culture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix_culture