At first I was confused on where the documentary was going in the first 2 minutes. But after continuing watching the first 24 minutes of “RiP: A Remix Manifesto”, I found myself thinking differently about remix culture and creativity. Before this, I never really thought about how artists take popular music and remix it, changing and manipulating it to blend with other songs. At first, I thought it might just be taking someone else’s work and making it your own, but the documentary helped me see it’s so much deeper than that. It’s really connected to copyright and how creativity can either be limited or allowed to thrive. I liked how the narrator labeled the opposing sides of copyright as “copyRIGHT” and “copyLEFT”.

As I continued watching, I started to feel like there shouldn’t be so many restrictions around creative property. Sharing ideas and letting others build on them helps us all become more interconnected, and it allows culture to keep growing. Of course, I also understand that some people take advantage of that by stealing others’ work and claiming it as their own, and I don’t agree with that. But I really agree with the main idea of the Remix Manifesto: culture always builds on the past, and we need to have freedom to do that.

I also really appreciated how well-edited the documentary was. The narrator’s storytelling was engaging, and I loved how he incorporated his own backstory and personal connection to this topic. It made everything feel more real and passionate. Overall, this documentary opened up my mindset and made me excited to apply these ideas in our upcoming audio remix project.

“A new media object is not something fixed once and for all, but something that can exist in different, potentially infinite versions.”

This quote was the one that stood out to me from Lev Manovich’s discussion of Variability in this reading. It captures how new media is apart from traditional media. Unlike old media, which produced static, identical copies such as printed books or photographs, new media allows for constant changing and personalization. This flexibility is something I see often through apps, and digital platforms, especially social media platforms that adjust their content based on user interests and preferences.

One example of this variability is social media feeds. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok present different versions of the same app to every user, with content tailored by algorithms which are set to the person’s interest making it harder for them to draw their attention away. Basically, no two feeds are the same, making the experience uniquely personal. This reflects the idea that digital objects are no longer static, instead, they evolve based on user interaction such as likes and comments and how often a person shares related posts on TikTok.

Manovich also highlights how variability connects to modularity, which is the idea that individual media elements can be rearranged or customized without affecting the whole. A clear example of this is how customizable websites or digital art platforms allow users to manipulate layouts, images, and colors, creating entirely new versions without rewriting the entire structure, just like my blog for this New Media Arts class on a blogs site that was created by Baruch College, where I was able to do exactly that. Not much, but I am able to choose layouts and customize features of my blog’s visuals.

Overall this principle of variability places an importance in the dynamic nature of digital culture, it shows how digital culture is always changing. It challenges the idea of “finished” products and instead embraces the constant evolution of media, offering endless possibilities for creativity and personalization.

1. Polaroid Films
2. A New Desk (with drawers)
3. Lysol Wipes
4. New Concealer
5. Facial Cleanser
6. MoMa Yankees Cap
7. Spa Day
8. Desk Cabinet
9. Painting Supplies
10. Soil for mini plant
11. Try Dessert Spot
12. Finish Reading that one book
13. Hair Lotion
14. Clear storage
15. Download Bereal

Amanda Hutagalung

A passage from reading “Jerry Saltz’s 33 Rules for Being an Artist” by Jerry Saltz that stands out to me the most would be Lesson 21: Define Success. It hits differently when Saltz frames success as “time” rather than money or happiness. A lot of people view success with fame, wealth, or recognition, but Saltz simplifies it to something much more raw and practical. Basically he says that if you have time to do your work, then you’re successful. That’s it. No romanticized illusions, unsolicited advice, no sugarcoating.

As I was reading through each lesson, I appreciated how brutally honest he is about the struggle. He acknowledges that for most artists, the reality is working full-time, feeling trapped, and dealing with frustration, resentment, loneliness and envy. That’s something many people look over when they talk about “following your passion.” The struggle isn’t just a short phase, it can last for years. But at the same time, he offers a practical path forward: slowly carving out more time, whether by cutting work hours or finding a job that aligns with art.

His perspective of success stands out because it’s not delusional. He doesn’t say, “Just believe in yourself, and everything will work out.” He acknowledges that most artists won’t be making a living off their work immediately or ever really. But he also suggests that you can still find success by being resourceful, sneaky, and persistent enough to create more time for your craft.

I think that’s why this passage resonates with me. It’s comforting in a way when he says it’s normal to feel stuck, to struggle, and even to feel depressed about not having enough time. But rather than letting that define failure, he frames success as the ability to make time. It’s realistic, but also hopeful in its own way.

Hi! I like to drink matcha every morning.