Monday, March 28, 2011

blog #10 Lessig and Remix

First, post a link and/or description of a remix you like. Next, make 3 specific connections between today's reading and the remix. 


My remix is Sam Adams' "I hate college": (link below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_4UaPeWCJM&feature=related


This link is a remix of Asher Roth's song "I love college". This remix connects to the Lessig reading in these three ways:



  1. Lessig explained that creative writing gives anyone the ability to share. Therefore, writing gives us the ability to quote previous works as long as we give credit to those that have 'originally' published the work. However, with music and videos, this use of 'quotes' changes. This remix plays on this idea because it uses the same music, though slightly altered, is easily identifiable. Furthermore, the name itself draws attention to both the original work as well as sets itself apart from this work so that the 'consumer' of this media would not be confused, and mistake this piece for the original. 
  2. Lessig stated that multiple quotes from various places put together is a remix. This is true in this remix because the artist Sam Adams' used the same gramatical structure in his remix, while changing the message.
  3. The third point the Lessig brings up is that the remix dilevers a new message to the viewers. A copy of the creative work does not have the same value if it was completely recreated, using a copy of the work provides the remix with the power that was behind the original. With this in mind it is important to understand how this remix contrasts the original by calling to light the fact that the original song "I love college", by Asher Roth, wasn't actually talking about college, but rather was talking about the party life that often blurs into the college life of most students. 



In conclusion, I feel that this remix helps reemphasize the point that Lessig was trying to get across, that a remix is a way of creating something new, by changing something that was preexisting. Stepping out of the American view, "here is something, buy it" and into the Japanese view "here is something, make something, do something with it". It is a mix of building and interacting with a community and a form of education. (Ironically the song I picked was about education.)


Aside from the remix I selected, something else that I found very interesting was the statement "If you don't want something stolen, make it easily available". This phrase alone, I believe shows how creative culture is shifting in our newly digital age.  

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Blog #9 Lawrence Lessig's Remix

First, describe what you see as Lessig's key argument in the Introduction. 


"Permission is vital, legally"... This is the key phrase that is repeated throughout the introduction. As Lessig discusses the examples of how the legality of many situations in todays music and creative society are technically right, but at the same time, this legal restraints seem outdated and unproductive, unless you are the lawyers defending the multimillion dollar companies that own the rights. Lessig's overall argument of the introduction is that modern technology is changing the way in which people interact in a creative sense, especially in the music sense, and as this interaction becomes increasingly easier, it is important to look at both the impact and the "damage" this new form of creation is causing. 


Second, describe the difference RW and RO culture and why it matters to Lessig's argument. 


RW stands for "read/Write" culture. RO stands for "Read/Only" culture. According to Lessig, the difference between these two cultures is the interaction from the person accessing the work. In a RW culture, the person reads, or listens, to the music, but in a RO culture, there is merely consumption of the creative work. 




Third, why does Lessig use Sousa?


Lessig used Sousa as an example because of his take on creativity and culture. Sousa believed that the shift in more people creating new works would prohibit others from being able to create truly great works. The principle behind copyrights, according to Sousa, was to allow the professionals a chance to be creative, instead of suppressed. Overall Sousa believed in an extremist view that every form of culture should be regulated. Lessig puts this view in the beginning of his book in order to provide the reader with a broad spectrum, through which all a opinions should be based, as the we read we must keep both sides of the arguments in mind in order to fully understand the issue at hand. 

Blog #8: End of Miller and Connection to WhoSampled

Thoughts on the reading...

"Newton's synchronized time ordered the industrial revolution and gave us a culture of production based on highly stratified temporal regulation" (80).

"A paradox in math and physics translates into the social realm of human relations"(80).

"Sometimes the best way to get an idea across is to simply tell it as a story"(80).

"For math to code to culture, contemporary art has shifted as well. It all seems more and more that the creative act itself is becoming a source-code like Linux where people create and add modules of thought-ware to the mix, making it all a little more interesting. Speaking in code, we live in a world so utterly infused with digitality that it makes even the slightest action ripple across the collection of data bases we call the web"(89).

"Strange, inferential portraits of a seamlessly complex system for routing people and products, a system as intricate as a global nervous system without all the baggage... It all depends on your perspective"(92).

"It's a milieu where each 'musical sculpture' is unique yet completely dependent on the system that created the context"(97).

"Context becomes metatext, and the enframing process, as folks as diverse as Iannis Xenakis, Kool Keith a.k.a. Dr Octagon or Eminem can tell you, like media philosopher Freidrich Kittle, 'Aesthetics begins as 'patterns recognition'. ' "(100).

"The prostitute scenario is about an end of definitions - breaking the loops, and watching the role collapse in on itself when it's no longer occupied"(109).

"My challenge to myself is to always try to create new worlds, new scenarios at almost every moment of thought"(109).

"You can never play a record the same way for the same crowd. That's why remixes happen. Memory demands newness"(113).

WhoSampled.com Connection...


Wiz Khalida's "The Thrill" from 'Burn after rolling' mixtape.

Empire of the Sun's ''Waking on a Dream''.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Blog #7

First, briefly summarize the overall argument(s) of the deBourgoing piece. 


The article entitled, Hip Hop Goes Transmedia: Seven Laws, by Marguerite de Bourgoing, explains how the hip hop community has taken advantage of the new digital age in order to continue a thriving culture, that will continue to produce even more works. First, the key to becoming successful is the ability to promote yourself online. For rap artists, this means a strong web presence is required, and directly relates to a bigger following, which ultimately gives the artist recognition in the music world, as well as a greater attendance at their performances. What is key is that each artist creates an image, or as deBourgoing explains it, a self brand. With the idea of creating a 'self brand' in mind, the second key aspect of deBourgoing's piece, is understanding how create more then a brand, but a style that influences their communities. With the popularity, that comes from the online recognition, the self brands often take on new aspects, especially clothing. This was seen in the past with Run DMC and Adidas shoes, and is still evident today as styles and products follow what these artists choose to wear. It is also key to understand that the creation of these styles means that the artists are getting more recognition, through the promotion of these styles the clothing companies feel it is important to not only sponsor them, but to also allow them to express themselves in innovative clothing lines. The third point explains that will all this recognition, there comes a great deal of power, as these artists are seen as becoming more politically influential. Collaboration is the forth key element in this seemingly individualized realm. Collaboration has become more then just the interaction between the DJ and the artist. It is seen as artist work together to produce music, bringing together multiple fan bases. El Prez compared it to superheros, since many superheros are know for their individual qualities but tend to work together. This was an intriguing connection as the ability of these artist to work together, can help them promote themselves even further. The fifth augment focuses on the fact that these artists are skillful with their word choice and are able to get messages across. Female artists are the sixth argument in how the Hip Hop industry is taking advantage of the digital revolution. Though the sexists and bias remarks of many of the artists may create an image of a male dominated industry, the fact is that many women work within this rap world, and are crucial in the promotion of an artist work. Finally, deBourgoing points concludes with the point that the hip-hip is a great example of how oral cultures manifest in ways that are not just verbal.  




Second, briefly describe any connections you see between her argument(s) and the things we discussed in the first half of the course. 


This article provides an example for many of the ideas we have discussed in class during the first half of our course. Considering the Web2.0 and Web Squared articles, I drew connections between how the artists are choosing to use the internent in order to self promote their 'brand'. Using Twitter, Tumblr, and other websites that allow for fans to not only follow their favorite artists, but in some ways interact with these artist. Drawing connections to Weinberger, this book shows how powerful the 'one leaf on many braches' idea is, as seen through the ways the artist promote themselves. Especially when deBourgoing  discussed how these artists are collaborating together, which made me think of how the followers of one artist might follow a link to another artists page. Another connection is how the artists are choosing to put music and music videos online, now free for the viewer, because there is a connection between the amount of people viewing their music and how many people choose to attend a performance. Building on this online arena of music, I think it is cool how the ability to not only listen to the music, but the chance to watch the music videos, has pushed for more innovative ways to self promote an artists brand and style. 




Third, the Miller book is a bit tough to read, but do your best to summarize his key argument(s). 


I also drew connections between what I have stated above and the assigned reading from the book by Paul Miller, Rhythm Science. Though abstract in his explanation, I believe that there was three main points. The first key point was the connection between writing and music. As Miller explained it, those who write books and those who create music are one in the same. Just as writing requires building on knowledge of predecessors, so too does music. While unrecognized by many, Miller explains how he can draw connections between modern music and ancient music. Second, Miller discusses the idea of a multicultural 'melting pot' in which each person has a greater opportunity, due to the digital age, to create a unique self, separating oneself entirely. Lastly, Miller discussed the revolutionary effects that were caused by the ability to broadcast sound, and how society is encountering the same revolution with this digital age as people are exploring and creating new ways to interact with each other. Overall, I believe the key of the section was understanding how our digital abilities can not only change how we see ourselves, but how we communicate with others, both having enormous emotional impacts.  




Lastly, make any connections you can between deBourgoing, Miller, and any of the topics we've discussed in class so far.


The connection with others that Miller has explained relates to many of the things we have discussed in class this semester. However, I see a strong connection between Miller and the thought inspiring 'so what' question that follows many lecture conversations. I see Miller as trying to delve deeper into understanding how this digital realm will change society on a mass level, focusing specifically on how it is going to shape how individuals express themselves.