Good Copy Bad Copy + I am Not a Gadget

Although, I could definitely write about a few of the questions from my earlier post this week, I was really influenced by the documentary we watched in class, today.  I can honestly say that throughout the day specific parts of the film would pop into my head. Thus, the reason I have decided to blog about it for my response post for week 5.

“Good Copy Bad Copy: A documentary about the current state of copyright and culture” was directed by Andreas Johnsen, Ralf Christensen, and Henrik Moltke. The film discusses the clash between copyrighted music and laws verse the technological advances that allow anybody with a computer to download, mash-up, and sample copyrighted music.  The music scene is changing; it’s moving towards a user-generated scene where “computer kids” are becoming famous DJs, such as GirlTalk and DeadMau5, for mashing up and creating music on Garageband (and other more high-tech software’s). Not only are these “computer kids” becoming famous DJs, but also YouTube celebrities, and amateur filmmakers.

I found the portion on economics and business in underprivileged countries such as Nigeria and Brazil to be very interesting. This aspect of the film brought about a unique opinion on copyright and sampling. In Brazil, mash-up music is an artistic genre of it’s own. It’s treated as a small business and distributed over loud speakers as advertisement for large block parties generating revenues. If the burnt CDs are sold, they are not sold in the traditional context by any means. Some street vendors may sell copies of the mastered mixed CD for small fees.

“Good Copy Bad Copy” also focused on the aspect of peer-to-peer file sharing. Okay SHHH, don’t tell on me, or sue me, but I definitely partake in the file-sharing and downloading music for free scene. Honestly though, I really don’t feel bad because the bands I’m downloading for free, I’m spending a fair amount of money on their live shows. For example,  I couldn’t tell you how many Phish songs and shows I’ve ripped off the internet, but I also can’t count the amount of money I’ve spent on tickets and t-shirts (and beers) for their concerts.

One part of the documentary that vividly sticks out in my memory was about how creativity is on the line. Will future generations of music and movies just be remakes of originals? How many Friday the 13ths or James Bonds can we have? I have thought this about movies for a long time. But music seemed different before this week. I believed there was always new music and already created music could be so well manipulated that it sounded new.

Both Lanier’s “I am not a Gadget” and “Bad Copy Good Copy” get at the premise that creativity is lost. Lanier believes that since the amateurization of music (through file-sharing and mash-up technology) nothing original has been created. Both the documentary and Lanier’s novel question where we draw the line or make the balance between protecting intellectually property and the future of creation through these technological software’s.

In conclusion, (for now) before this week I never really looked at this problem from this point of view. I only viewed it from the listener’s point of view (SWEET! Free music! AWESOME! Jay-Z and The Beatles mashed up together!) But will our world of music eventually turn into a chaotic, mess of a world of amateur music streamed through the Internet, as these discussed mediums suggest?