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| By GanjaVandal |
When I watched the copyright fair rights video it got me to think about when I was working on my undergraduate degree. My concentrated area was in Electronic Arts. In my typographic class there was a project that was required to do on photographing different font on building in our environment. That mean it could be graffiti, ancient font off of church building or modern signs it did not matter where we found it as long as it was interesting. After retrieving that resource, then we were required to duplicate our images and transfer it into one of the programs that we using to draw. There was twigging to make it our own style, and then we critique the outcome. I often wondering was that work of art was true our own or did we just take advantage of the original artist who simply did not know their rights and a dead artist who could not speak up for themselves. Which ever the case may be, I personal did not feel I had the right to claim something that I duplicated from another person work.
I agree with you Angela that there is a fine line between creating work from the inspiration of another artist's work and taking credit for another artist's idea. You and I talked about this in detail before. As a musician, primarily vocals, I started my passion for music and singing because of a song on the radio or (check this out!) the 8 tracks, 45, or cassette tape. Yes I am getting that young! Lol!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Roberta Flack was my first inspiration. Well back then you could sing the hell out of anybody’s song and not worry about a thing. Artists actually took it as a compliment. People would ask, “who is that artist?” and I’d say, “Roberta Flack” then they’d go out and by the cassette or CD as time went on.
The Arts are supposed to be about inspiration, passion, and emotion, plus a bowl full of other stuff. Japan wouldn’t have beaten the U.S. in technology if the U.S. had never showed them their technology. In there lies the issue; the respect, common courtesy for the person or thing that inspired a person is fading. The disrespect now flows on both sides. Until people learn to treat each other fairly again, the Fair Use Issues will continue. How bout this for a dream: I just read an article, Emerging Copyright Issues of Music Industry – International Prospective by Gaurav Singh (2008). According to Singh,
“a new term called Copyleft licensing is also
used these days; the term is used to describe
the removal of Restrictions on the use of ideas
and information. People who wish to share their
materials can use the Copyleft license to allow
others to reproduce, adapt and distribute
copies of their work”.
Now this might be a great workaround. If I don’t mind you using my stuff I’ll just create a copyleft license so is no drama. Hope this takes of across the board.
Singh, G. (2008). Emerging copyright issues of
music industry – international prospective.
JurisOnline.in. Retrieved on June 29, 2011
from http://jurisonline.in/2008/09/emerging-
copyright-issues-of-music-industry-%E2%80
%93-international-prospective/
Angela,
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to this! I have a BFA and had to consider copyright in every image I used. Often I manipulated images so that I could use them but there is a very thin line there. More often than not I just used images as inspiration for a projected outcome. True creativity comes from within! So happy that you posted this! I believe that being an artist myself I would be deeply saddened if someone would try to claim my work as their own.
Angela
ReplyDeleteFirst I love the image you posted. It had me starring at it for a while. I still can’t quite figure it out, but I guess that is why we cal it art! In reference to your project from undergrad, knowing now the true definition of copyright I would say it was a copyright infringement. I am not sure why your professor at the time did not discuss copyright to your class then but it seems at least you knew right from wrong. Though you did add your own spin on it, you realized it wasn’t your own work. I guess we al should know that because when we are writing a paper even thought we put information in our own words, if the thought came from someone else we document it and give the source the credit.
I think we just view art differently. I don’t think you all took advantage of the artist whose work you used. I think that being young your were showing admiration for the artist and learning at the same time. You were doing a project and learning from it. I think it refers back to the “Fair Use” policy. You didn’t know what you were doing and you could not convey the meaning utilizing something different. I think that the artist would have been flattered to know that a student was learning from their style and creating something unique from it.
I am sure Picasso, Van Gogh, Bearden, and so many others would be happy to know they have influenced so many to view the world around them differently. It’s when you purposefully steal a vision and try to pass it off as your own that they would be disappointed and want to sue. It was a learning process then and we are learning now more about copyright. I am sure you will have that discussion with your students if you ever have them create a project like the one you were presented with years ago.
I wonder if I should have been giving Magic Johnson credit for my drop-step move in the post when I was in high school playing basketball. Even now, should Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James be sued by Julius Erving for them stealing his gravity defying moves. I think that certain things are taken, studied and improved upon and it is just how that art form is created. Should a little old lady somewhere be suing Rachel Ray or the Neely’s for stealing her apple pie or cheesecake recipes? I think these as well as your situation should not be viewed as copyright infringements but I am no lawyer, just an educator who loves basketball and desserts.
Angela,
ReplyDeleteRegardless of what anyone says, duplication is the first step to creating. It’s like doing a Lit Review, you research what is before you can add to the line of great works. I’ve seen this in music, art, sports, and acting. Brian Molko once said, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but clones kind of get it wrong because we are promoting individuality and being proud of being yourself.” This quote was expanded upon to fit our times. It was originally said by Charles Celeb Colton in 1820 in his ‘Lacon.’ The original quote was, “ Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” There are not too many original thoughts. When we were doing our Lit Reviews, we were encouraged to find the trail. It took a great deal of time, but most of us found the trail. In short, you are fine. Duplication is necessary, and your instructor understood this fact.
Leon Carson Jr.
Brian Molko Quote:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/brianmolko181459.html
Charles Celeb Colton Quote
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/10/messages/203.html