The documentary named “RIP: A Remix Manifesto” directed by Brett Gaylor, a Canadian filmmaker, primarily made it’s focus clear around the word culture. During the rise of the internet copyright infringement rose right beside it, and although people began to collect large amounts of new data, those who attempted to recycle any of began to receive backlash with the law. The documentary, mostly focusing on earlier Hip-hop DJ’s who sampled different sounds and later made a hobby and living out of it, describes how some people dealt with the problems of copyright. The “manifesto” that is stated in the title is shortly summarized in four key points. Firstly, “culture always builds on the past.” Second, “the past always tries to control the future.” Third, “our future is becoming less free.” And lastly, “to build free societies you must limit the control of the past.”
As the film stated, while artists began to acquire the knowledge and works that came from the internet, the law saw it as a huge market – easy money that can come from people who infringe upon the laws set in place. In my point of view, the manifesto described in the film answers all the questions that a person might have in regards to the culture of sampling and DJing. As a huge source of information, the internet, with all of its uses, should not be limited to people who use it in their own artwork. Although the latter is difficult to specify, it is not hard to realize that in order to preserve, recycle, and learn from historic and cultural works people need to have the permission to do so without being in a constant state of fear of paying the fines. It is vital to add that the process of recycling someone else’s work and coming up with your own original work is the only way to give respect to the previous works and use it to your own advantage and original ideas.
In response to the third idea of the manifesto, “Our future is becoming less free”, it’s backbone still stands today. While net neutrality under our former president was made to make all internet traffic shared and used equally, it seems to be coming to an end with internet service providers being able to legally start charging people for their services. There is a strong connection to the third idea of the manifesto and today’s appeal process of net neutrality.