Here are the parts of "Everything is a Remix," which examines the same type of "borrowing" as Austin Kleon does in Steal Like an Artist.
We will watch the first two episodes in class. Leave one comment per video. Then leave one piece of feedback to a peers' comment.
Now, in order to receive full credit here (and this will go down as discussion points), please leave a solid, college level response. Don't say that you liked the video in two sentences. Instead, give us some legit college level thinking and analysis: find a new insight into the piece, connect it to something from Kleon's book or another work you've read, or connect it to a pop culture example.
Everything is a Remix Part 1 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
Everything is a Remix Part 2 from Kirby Ferguson on Vimeo.
For the movie video in class we talked about if that ruined it for us. I don't think it ruins it at all. For one most of the things they are saying they "remixed" or "copied" from I've never seen or ever heard of. Another reason it doesn't bother me is we've had movies and music for so long I think it would be impossible to find something now that no one has ever thought of before. They compared fighting scenes between movies and said they used the same template, but honestly a fight is a fight, how many different ways can you change it?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it ruined the movies for me either. A lot of those I never heard of either. I feel like the movies now are better then they were earlier, unless they were a cheaply made movie. I also think that you can only change something only so much.
DeleteI agree I don't think it ruined anything for me. You're right, a fight is a fight, you can't really change it. It doesn't matter to me if it's a completely original idea or not, I just enjoy watching a good movie
DeleteI feel the same way with the music as I do with the movies. It would be so hard to find something no one has thought of. For music though I didn't like that people copied lyrics. With the actual beat of the song depending on everything else used it could sound total different to someone with a similar beat. With using lyrics though, that's a little much. I think remixing music to a certain extent is fine, but they just need to know their limits.
ReplyDeleteI agree that people shouldn't copy lyrics. At this point, they should try to be more creative and get a new message across. A song is like a story, no two are exactly the same, so no two songs should have the same lyrics. Artists should want to tell their own stories and create their own messages, so they shouldn't steal lyrics.
DeleteMusic is very easy to copy because, for the most part, most cord combinations have already been used. People like listening to things that are familiar and catchy, so that I why artists steal music. Personally, I think they should make more of a point to change the music, or at least give the original artist more credit. For instance, Led Zeppelin is best known for the opening lick of Stairway to Heaven, but that was actually stolen. Music is art, so bands should work harder to make something unique and original. They only instance where music can be stolen is when an artist makes a tribute to another artist.
ReplyDeleteI think movies shouldn't follow a strict format for a certain genre. They should be more creative and come up with new plot lines and action scenes. You can definitely tell when a movie rips off another one, and more often than not, these movies are considered low-grade. The best movies are original and works of art. Just like with music, iconic lines and scenes should only be used as a tribute to the writers before.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you can tell when a movie is totally ripped off. However, many big box office movies also stole ideas from movies that were already made. They just stole small details from many different movies that created a whole new idea. I think movies the copied can still be good they just have to be well made.
DeleteI agree with when you say you can tell when it rips off another and those aren't the movies that get the credit. I agree they need to be original and some little things might sneak in there but for the most part they aren't comparable. Also never in my life have I compared movies side-by-side so if I've seen the scene before I won't remember that it was similar to one in a movie I saw two months ago.
DeleteWhen he describes how music artist always copy the work of other artists it kind of surprised me because I have never really though of that. I thought it was interesting that so many songs have some of the same lyrics in it as other songs. I feel that even though some artists, like Led Zeppelin, steal some music, it isn't really stolen because they still find ways to make it their own. Just like movies, music is so easy to copy and take ideas off of other songs because there are so many songs out there. I feel that when an artist is making a new song they are copying other music without even knowing it.
ReplyDeleteNothing has pure originality, authenticity is a yes though. We probably do not not consciously think of the world as being remixed because we have be cultivated and surrounded by remixes without realization of them.
DeleteNothing has pure originality, authenticity is a yes though. We probably do not not consciously think of the world as being remixed because we have be cultivated and surrounded by remixes without realization of them.
DeleteWhen he was explaining how Star Wars had some of the very similar scenes in it as other movies I was kind of surprised but the movies they were naming I have never even heard of. I think that 'remixing' ideas from old movies to new movies it kind of a good thing because then it kind of makes the idea better. I think it makes it better because now we can do much more with filming because of the technology we have now. This kind of makes the ideas more interesting and better. When we keep using the ideas from old movies then we can keep improving them and making them better.
ReplyDeleteI agree that taking ideas from old movies and 'remixing' them into new movies can make them better because of today's creativity and technology. I also think that by referencing old movies, we can pay a tribute to the original writers. However, when referencing scenes, the directors/writers should put a new, creative spin on it to make it more original.
DeleteI agree, Rylie. I also think it makes the the idea better. I also think that stealing an idea or scene from another movie is rather an honor instead of a ripoff.
DeleteI feel like for the video we watched in class today, the one that talked about the movies, kind of ruined it in a way for me. I knew that most movies copied some ideas from other movies, but I didn't really know in depth how copied some of the films are. Once I watched the video I was a little mind blown when they actually compared the movies. Though, I feel that movie producers shouldn't have any strict rules on copying because it allows them to put a whole new twist on things in their own creative ways.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is was a bit disappointing to find out almost all movies are copies. It made me think what movies are actually original and not just a remix of someone else's idea. However, I along with most people never even realized it until now and most of the successful movies today are remixes.
DeleteI feel like music is the most easiest thing to "accidentally' copy. Just think if you were to sit down and try write a song from scratch. You may know hundreds of thousands of songs already and it's very easy to steal a couple words or melodies. When he talked about Led Zeppelin in the video I had no idea many rock artists today steal from them. I know most of my music I listen to today are remixes. I even know a song called "Chill Bill" has the same whistling in the movie "Kill Bill" as their background music. I feel that it should be okay to steal from other artists just as long as the new artists does it legally and makes their version better.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you say that music is the most easiest thing to accidentally copy. I feel like it would be almost impossible to make a full song all from scratch. Live the video said the most famous artists even stole ideas or copied other artists songs and music.
DeleteI do think that music is very easy to accidentally copy, or even just copy in general. Very view people can come up with an original song because most lines have already been put in other songs.
DeleteI was surprised to find out that so many notable movies “copied” other ones. For example, Star Wars, there are so many small details that were copied throughout. It made me think a bit differently about those movies. However, they were from movies that most people don’t recognize. People have now stole ideas from Star Wars or created another Star Wars movie. It’s an endless remixing of ideas. These movies put a new twist on the idea and give it a new meaning, creating better ideas and movies that will inspire new ones.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was weird to see that Star Wars had actually stolen many of its scenes from other movies. Usually I see movies stealing from Star Wars. One thing that made Star Wars' stealing unique was that it stole from many different movies. It combined the best parts from prior movies to make something that felt new and refreshing. Nowadays, movies seem to just steal from one source that it claims inspired it. Star Wars was revolutionary in film stealing and is still one of the best "stealers".
DeleteExcellent point about stealing from a wide variety of fields or areas. That is a true remix rather than just a rip off. Perhaps that is what makes Star Wars such an enduring modern myth. It would be interesting to look at all the things another modern myth, The Lord of the Rings, stole from.
DeleteI was less surprised with the music I think most of the time we copy without even realizing it. Songs tend to get stuck in your head so it is a lot easier to copy them unconsciously. There are only so many cords or instruments that are used to create music, so it is hard to make a song totally original. I think most musicians steal because everything has already been sung or done before. With better technology today artist are able to remix melodies and lyrics into a new song that most people don’t even recognize.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the point that there is only so many things you can do. Also like you said people don't recognize it and sometimes the "copied" beat is under more layers of music. So the base of the song might be very similar but what they choose to do with it and the lyrics they choose can totally set them apart.
DeleteI agree that most artists probably don't even realize that they are stealing ideas from others. It is easy to recall ideas from the past. It is harder to recall were the original idea came from, therefore it is almost impossible to give credit to those who deserve it. Everyone has become so accustomed to this way of creating "new" art that we don't consider it to be wrong.
DeleteI also agree that artists may not even realize they are stealing ideas from others. It's so easy to hear something and then forget about it, then when you remember it think it is your own. Most of the time they add their own little thing to the beat as well, so it's not like they are stealing the whole thing
DeleteI enjoy watching movies more than I do tv shows for one reason: a movie is a single idea while an episode of a show is practically the same thing over and over again. Focusing on just movies, I do not like how a lot of movies nowadays tend to copy very heavily, such as sequels and spinoffs, because there is much less original thought put into them. Instead of creating art, it seems that hollywood simply wants our money. Small scale inspiration is fine to me as long as it still has creativity. For example, I can enjoy every Coen Brothers movie even while seeing how similar they are because each one is still unique, but not with Star Trek because they all seem the same to me.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting point, Evan. It would be interesting to analyze one of my favorite Coen bothers' films, No Country for Old Men, to see what they stole or borrowed from other films - whether intentionally or unintentionally. One thing I love about that film is that it lacks (intentionally) any type of score. There is no soundtrack or music at all (save for one mariachi band). Where did they get that idea? Also, it would be fun to see how many other movies or directions have been influenced by No Country for Old Men and, thus, stole and remixed ideas from it.
DeleteWhen we watched the video in class about remixing movies, we saw examples of how star wars took most of its ideas from bits and pieces of other films. To me, this is completely acceptable because it isn't like they are stealing a complete plot. They are just taking small aspects and slightly tweaking them to make it their own final product.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the music video, I was less surprised to hear that music is often "copied or stolen" from other bands. I think the reason behind this is the fact that it is hard to find new music that matches the lyrics and the overall feeling that the band wants to convey. It is much easier to take the music from another band and just add new lyrics to make it sound new and unique, this way they can claim it as their own.
ReplyDeleteWhen we watched the video in class where they talked about how movies will take the tiniest from other films and use them in their own, I don't find this to be a problem. Everyone takes ideas from other people and slightly changes them to make it their own. It would be different if they were taking the whole plot line and such, but it's only certain scenes. In the end, all I care about is if the movie that I'm watching is entertaining or not.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised when it came to the music. I already knew that music is copied from other artists. There are two songs that have the exact same "score" or music, just different lyrics. They are both good songs. It's not easy to come up with a whole sheet of music to go with your lyrics, sometimes you have to take bits and pieces from others to match your lyrics, maybe change it up a bit to make it your own. It's just how things go in this time.
ReplyDeleteFrom the video we watched in class, I was actually shocked at how many movies were just remakes of others. I never really noticed that movies stole from each other. Its crazy how many movies ahve basically the same plot. although this could seem annoying to hardcore movie watchers I don't think its a bad thing. When movies steal from each other they make their own little twist to things. It's okay to steal ideas because then we can actually do things that are great.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I never realized how many movies copy one another. I also agree that I do not think it is a big deal because people are constantly stealing ideas from one another so whats the big deal if a movie does it? At some point I can see where it would be a problem or where some movies might cross the line but I still do not think it is that big of a deal.
DeleteI read a book that broke down thousands of Hollywood films into basically the same plot point. It was kind of sad to see how many film stick to this formula, but at the same time it was interesting to see all the creative leeway the directors used to tell very different stories. It's kind of like how every single poem, story, or book ever written is just the a different combination of the same 26 letters. Just in different orders!
DeleteI knew that music was already stolen from artist to artist. I would even recognize it when I would listen to radio music. Some songs had the exact same beats just different lyrics or vice versa. For an artist who makes "original" music I would be a little annoyed but im sure eceryone steals from others in the music industry.
ReplyDeleteFor the music one, I am not surprised that music is copied because we have known this for years. At some point people will have to realize that music is repetitive and you cannot always come up with something original. The ideas for songs may be remixed but that does not entirely mean they are stolen.
ReplyDeleteI never realized how many movies are copied and how exact scenes are practically identical. Although they tend to change things up a little bit, you can clearly see a resemblance to the other movie or movies. I feel like sometimes the director copies these scenes as a way to pay tribute to the other directors and the great work they do. Other times they may just need something and are not original and can't find something else to do.
ReplyDeleteThat's another good way of thinking about it too. I always thought of it and making movies appealing to a wider variety of different people.
DeleteI agree. I think that in most cases when someone steals aspects from another movie it is done as a tribute to the great work that the director has done. It shows how great artist influence the future great artists.
DeleteIf "music is a universal language" then I do not feel like stealing is so bad. The goal of many music artists is to have their music be well known, although some of them certainly do it the easy way by using the same four chords in their songs to make more money. If a tune is good enough to be used again, I think it should be since a remix might make make it even better and more people would have a chance to hear it.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with the opening line. If we are to truly connect through music, we must steal ideas to appeal to everyone to get that point across. Genius.
DeleteI understand how this relates to Steal Like An Artist. In the video, I feel like basically what it is saying is people feed off of what music is currently sounding like. Eventually it develops into more modern music. It makes me wonder what different types of music will sound like another 50 years from now. In Steal Like An Artist, people copy what others do but then just change it a tad to what they would like more.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm excited to see what the future brings for music. Everyone always jokes that future music will just be beeps and boops, which at that point, every song will just be a remix. Maybe in the future songs will be stolen from even more than now.
DeleteI like how the movie, Transformers, was made into a movie appealing to adults, not just kids. It was a good idea because now, the movie is more popular by a bigger variety of people. This is probably another way the maker of the movie "stole like an artist" because the maker made it into something he would've like. He then probably took what he liked and applied it to what others might like too. The idea of taking the animated version (kiddish version) and turned it into something that adults would like too. Making the movie more successful.
ReplyDeleteWhen watching the first video, I was surprised about how much artists base their music off of other artists' music. I feel like the music world relates to "Steal like an Artist" in how new music develops. Past and current musicians influence the future generations of musicians. It has been this way for many years and I think it is good that they reinvent old forms of music by taking pieces and making the new. Watching this video made me wonder what the world of music will be like in the future.
ReplyDeleteOld music can still be made new, so throwing away something that has already been done seems like a waste. It can still take talent to recycle a song, just as many genres got inspiration from other genres.
DeleteIn the video referring to similarities in movies, I was surprised about how much in movies are reinvented into new story lines or scenes. I never would have realized it without watching this video. I do like that they copy scenes in ways that pay tribute to classic films and directors. I just don't think that a movie should have a lot of the same aspects as another movie. It should be creative and follow its own story instead of taking a majority of things from other movies.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised when I found out that they reinvented stories as well, I thought it was very interesting. I also thought it was very classy of producers who are making new movies that they recognize famous scenes from other movies. Even though they do put their own spin on it, you can still tell that some of the scenes have been done before.
DeleteIn the first video about remixing songs I think that there are definitely a lot of different forms of remixes out there. Many of the songs we listen to are remixes and even though we normally like them, the original of the remix is normally better. It is cool though what they come up with when they do do remixes.
ReplyDeleteI think that the statistic about how 74 out of 100 movies from the last 10 years that were made were either remakes or sequels. It makes sense though when you think about it because if people have seen the first movie and they make a second one, they obviously are going to want to figure out what happens next. In my opinion I think that it is kind of smart for people in the movie world to remake a movie and put their own spin on it. It shows how they tried to make someone else's work bigger and better, which definitely relates the "Steal Like an Artist".
ReplyDeleteMovies definitely have themes, scenes, and techniques that are shared between films. In a way, it's sad that we continue to watch the same story structure continually, but I believe it makes the truly creative and original pieces extraordinary. Most movies fulfill peoples wishes for a good time, and they do so in similar ways. Action blockbusters aren't always meant to be deeply inspected, but rather simply enjoyed. When they are remixed so much just to provide entertainment, the unique films shine above the rest. I'm glad we have remixes because it rewards the creative.
ReplyDeleteMusic is a very different topic than movies. It's harder to create a truly innovative piece when the same tones make up each song. It can also be hard to create original songs when certain tones are thought to produce specific effects on people. There are detailed studies on how certain notes will make people feel. This can make creating new pieces hard when you may be swayed by people's tendency towards certain melodies/combinations. This con towards remixes also has a plus. When a great song comes out that many can relate to, other artists can learn from it and steal in order to create more music. In the end, it allows the market to be filled with songs people enjoy, even if there is little variety.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that 74 out of the last 100 movies were remixes from previous movies. I completely get where he's coming from here because I also believe you can't just be born with a great idea, you need influence. Almost all great ideas in history had influence so it makes sense movies are the same way. I am a movie fanatic so to truly figure out what the movies I love are based on, it's really interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of music being combinations of influences however. I am a music FANATIC and always have been. For a while I wanted to be a music producer so again I like the idea of combinations of ideas. If you combine other melodies or tunes into one track, it can sound like something completely new and can make everyone want to listen to it. That's the true power of music and it's amazing.
ReplyDeleteMusic is amazing, I love the combinations, but hate "covers". You should also be a producer because that would be pretty dope.
DeleteI find the music remix video very interesting. I actually hate when people make "covers" they just never are as good. But it's very cool how many people have taken pieces out of other songs. I wonder if they can go deeper though, they said people were remixing songs from the 60's. Could the people from the 60's be taking stuff from earlier?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the covers part they are crap they drive me nuts theres absolute zero creativity involved. The mixing of other ages is truly amazing. New music actually created using old parts. It adds a nice twist to it. Making it enjoyable for all ages.
DeleteIt is unbelievable to know that 74 out of 100 movies were remixes. I never really noticed, but the more I think about it it really does make sense. All fantastic ideas were stollen from another idea. Everything we create is a remix. The originals are extraordinary and I give a lot of credit to those who created an original film. Now that I think more it bothers me that ideas from other films are stollen and yet the producers probably making boat loads of cash.
ReplyDeleteThe movie video is kind of like the music one, but it seems a little more obvious in the movies. Star wars basically took everything from other movies, and made one of the greatest movie series of all time. With movies like avatar, you already know what is going to happen if it's an original. Because people like other movies, they are going to like this one if it ends the same way.
ReplyDeleteGreat point they are a lot alike. Its fascinating how star wars can make so much money from taking ideas. I can't stand the endings of remixed movies. At least through a twist in there to make it a little original.
DeleteThere certainly are instances where I actually like the remix better then the original. Usually though remix's drive me crazy. Ill just be signing the song and boom a different part. The originals took a lot of hard work and creativity. Remixes are just changed a little and takes minimal creativity. The fact though that the music stays alive like when someone remixes work from decades ago it's fascinating. I like mixes of songs remixed the way they combine the music is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate those who create remixes. They virtually find a canvas that already has something painted on it (the song) and then warp it to to their own liking. Anyone can collect material, create a combination, and transform it (it is used for all levels of creativity). It doesn't matter that you remix, it's dependent on HOW you remix that will give you a name. If everything is a remix then I say that everything is also a ripoff.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ferguson when he says that people like familiarity. People usually connect more with movies that are predictable or at least have connections with other movies or stories (whether they be closely bound or stretched aways). I give Jones (Star Wars) credit for steading bit and pieces of scenes from other movies and transforming them into one of the most-widely known movies of all times.
ReplyDelete