Sep 30 2010
Response: Week 5
Earlier in the week, I posted framing questions regarding the growing trend of amateurization. I questioned some of the ways that amateurization will continue to challenge and expand our creativity, as a society. Jenkins’ theory of participatory culture was further demonstrated in the documentary we watched in class on Wednesday, dealing with the related issue of copyright infringement. Copyright issues have certainly become a highly debated topic within the entertainment industry. The documentary specifically emphasized the immediate effects within the music and movie sectors worldwide.
Returning to the idea of amateurization: copyright infringement issues come into play as soon as you start examining much of the user generated content that is easily found online. Take YouTube, for instance: a hefty portion of the video content includes video “mashups,” parodies of now-famous news clips (Bedroom Intruder song, anyone?), remixes of popular songs and even entire TV episodes that are posted without permission. In some ways, it can be argued that the thought, time and effort put into these instances of amateurization, fosters the creative energy of our society. At the same time, there is a sector that would argue against the spread of this content due to directly ripping off others’ work. As I saw this tension played out in the documentary, I began to question whether we can ever achieve some degree of a happy medium between allowing the creation of amateur content (in an effort to encourage creativity, free of restrictions) and limiting the sharing of content that isn’t completely original (to avoid copyright infringement.) It’s a topic that we will continue to debate in the years to come, and perhaps we will never reach a direct solution. But regardless on where you personally stand on the issue, this generation is inarguably the first that is witnessing the revolutionary trend of amateur-infused content, reflective of the larger theories of collaboration and participatory culture, which is ultimately fostered by the Web.