Ecstasy of Influence Reading Response

- What are examples from your own experience of songs, writing, art, etc. that have roots or are derived from other sources? When you find out about a derivation, do you go and look up the original? Knowing both the original and the “plagiarized”, what is your relationship to each?

A lot of old electronica music gets their distinctive style often from sampling other works, and even non-musical sources, like speeches and audio-samplings. The 80's electronica band Front-242 has an entire song composed almost fully of edited snippets of commercial preachers' "sermons." And movies are always taking ideas from previous films and the ever-tempting source of material that are novels. Some movies are giant love letters to a genre as a whole; Pacific Rim was Guillermo del Toro's homage to the Japanese kaiju movies that were popular in the previous decades. If I haven't heard of the derivation, I often do go and look up the material where it came from. I think it's important to appreciate the source material and its influence. The original should be held in esteem for coming up with the idea in the first place, while the "plagiarized" should be judged based on its handling of said idea, and how it uses it in its own way.

- In your own words, what is the relationship between creativity and the act of borrowing? Think about the projects that you are currently working on in this class, what have you borrowed or been inspired by?

I think creativity is nothing without borrowing ideas from things you've seen before and been inspired by. Seeing something you really enjoy and using it to better your ideas or kickstart a stream of new, original thoughts is what really makes up the bulk of most creative endeavors. And just the act of interpreting previous ideas differently in itself is creativity at work. I've been inspired by a lot of old, grunge art films and animations. Weird, surrealistic, and deep works inspire a lot of my creative influence.

- On page 3, the author discusses the idea of enframing and recontextualizing. Ponder some of the videos that you have seen over the last month, locate examples of artists enframing or recontextualizing older ideas or sources in the work that you have seen. 

This is sort of a meta example, but Un Chien Andalou, the short film, shows Dali sampling a few ideas and symbolism from previous non-film related works of his. The ants crawling from a hole in a character's hand is a very popular symbol used in his art, though it might mean something different in this incarnation. Pipilotti Rist takes a variety of feminist ideas and interprets and conveys them in different, unconventional, but effective and original ways. 

- What are the “pros” and “cons” of copyright. Use examples from the reading to support your list.

The pros of copyright include the, very obvious, protection of the artist's credit to their work. It wouldn't be morally right for someone else to claim they created something and getting monetary compensation for the thing they didn't actually make. It would also prevent their work from being used in a way they personally would not approve of, such as a symbol or icon for inflammatory groups or messages. Cons include the overzealous claim to a property that some companies practice, threatening legal action for the most harmless use of their ideas even without the intention to gain money from them, and refusal for the property to fall into the public domain, even after decades go by. This wraps around to the stifling of creativity and affectionate use of beloved material. How will that idea ever be remembered if it's hoarded for years and never expanded upon by others?

- What is the difference between a gift and a commodity? Think about and then describe an instance in which you have personally participated in a gift economy.

A gift is something you have bestowed upon someone else, or received, as an act of camaraderie, and this establishes a sort of bond between the two parties and with the object in question. Commodities are objects you purchase with money, and given to you by someone because that's what they're supposed to do. I participate in a gift economy with my boyfriend all the time. Since we live so far from each other, we like to send each other gifts around holidays to have some semblance of a physical relationship. The smallest things mean so much in this way, from letters and cards, to dollar store candy. I even feel bad throwing away the boxes and wrappings from the things I receive.

- What are the commons?

Commons are the ideas, places, and material that belong to no one in particular, but instead to society as a whole. They are things to which no one can lay claim and charge for their use, and are free to be used by the public, and fall into public hands concerning their state and upkeep.

- What is undiscovered public knowledge? The author discusses this methodology of creating  knowledge using examples from science. Can this method be applied to art practice and how?

It is the idea that knowledge may be found by cross-referencing other similar, but out of range ideas to create or solve existing ideas and issues. Basically, additional ideas and information can be garnered if one looks to other sources and uses them for influence or to carry info over from past discoveries and innovations. This could definitely be applied to art practice; various genres of art can take a lot of interesting new ideas and methods from other genres and movements. Most 20th century art movements seem to be trying to shun their predecessor and show off their obvious superiority. But I honestly believe any piece of art can benefit from the ideas of many movements and styles.