sheyla_gsoriano

I think that we have a great amount of information available through the Internet and technology. Even thought we have most access to it, we can often times be overwhelmed with so much information, and sometimes we are simply limited to use it. After watching this video I learned that the past has influenced our “growing” society. This is also true according to “A Remixer’s Manifesto” point one in the manifesto is 1. Culture always builds on the past. I totally agree with this. I think that this has been proven in simple ways.   We need some sort of foundation to learn from. If we did not learn from the past we would make the same mistake over and over again, and our lives would not improve. We would possibly not do much if we were not inspired by others to take action or create something. Artists are often creating from inspiration. What I am trying to say is that our minds might not be able to explore beyond, if we did not have a basic image or inspiration to create.

What is interesting to me is that big corporations are trying to control the future. The more I watched the video, the more questioned popped in my head. I felt very interested in the subject and wanted to know more about the laws and consequences of creating. During this time I also felt upset at that fact that it is not even technically the artist who are benefiting from the copyrights. Why do these corporations want to control creativity so much? Of course the financial gain is most likely the answer, but it doesn’t seem like the big corporations started charging people who have high incomes, or who have luxurious lives. Gaylor said “If it were up to them, you wouldn’t be able to hear anything.” My question is why should big corporations profit from this situation like this? Why not find a more effective way, where both the original, new and corporations benefit from?

When Gaylor started mentioning all the fees that had to be paid in order to make all actions legal and right, I felt a little scared. I also though about how some artist must feel limited to what he or she can create. I understand we can use works from others as long as we use fair use, but until what point is fair use enough? Meaning, when do corporations know that an artist is not constantly using his or her work to express feelings? I think that corporations are trying to control too much and that cannot be done in this growing society. It is funny that we have most access to all the information in the world, yet we cannot do much with it, because we are limited to create from it. For example Girl Talk is a bright person and during his day job, he is limited to use the information required for a medical treatment, a treatment that can save so many lives. It is quite embarrassing and foolish for us to live in a society where creators are criminals.

On the contrary to must of my feelings about the video, I do agree with the recognition and acknowledgement of the “original” artist. I think that if someone else wants to use my work in his or her art, or if they are inspired by my art, I would like to be acknowledged for it especially if the “new” artist is profiting from it. I don’t think artist should be charged crazy amounts of money from being inspired from others. Like the previous artist and so on, he or she also had to go thought a process of creating his or her work and it would only be fare if they were to be recognized for it.

Over all I think that; information today has gotten out of hands and we have yet to learn how to handle it. I also think that the control should not be excessive.