I really enjoyed this week’s reading assignment, because I
love the intricate business side of the entertainment industry. I found it so
interesting that laws that were meant to protect an artist from others making
money from their work, has a flip side that constricts artists from creatively
producing work. May favorite videos
dealt with the ways other countries view copyright. Brazilian and Nigerian
artists are not engrossed in the moneymaking elements of entertainment, as much
as they are interested in purely entertaining. What was illustrated was that
the corporate world in America, which is the driving force behind the copyright
laws, are consumed by this “bottom line” kind of thinking, and milking every
possible penny out of consumers. This kind of greed-based mentality shows up
throughout America’s financial institutions, and results in the rot that drives
piracy and theft. The best example of
this was the Bridgeport V Dimension Film/Music case against Hip Hop recording
artists De La Soul. While Jane Peterer was right that the sample had been used,
the sample was not used in the same way as the original artist created it. In my opinion, this made the song “Me, Myself
and I” a new creation. The same is true for NWA’s “One Hundred Miles and Running.”
Moreover, the original artist Parliament and Funkadelic, was not even quoted in
the story.
When considering these laws, in the realm of education, it
becomes even more ridiculous. Every generation is taught the world around them.
Imagine if ancient pyramid inscriptions, drawings, and statues were
copyrighted. How many centuries of learners would have been deprived of
learning and interpreting the meanings of the artwork? I believe that this
example illustrates how ridiculous these laws are. If copyright laws had existed in the past for
100 years + 70, how many generations before us would have been neglected? I
look forward to more study on these issues.
Vee,
ReplyDeleteComment on Vee’s Week 1 Blog:
Greed-based is definitely the perfect description of the US copyright interests. While there are those who profess to protect the interest of the artist, it seems a bit strange that there are far too many stories where the artist received the raw end of these business deals. The conversation seems to be between the American middleman and the next generation creator. I too loved the remixes by the Brazilian producers. That cultural “stamp” in the bass line was ingenious. Equally remarkable was the Nigerians explanation of how they view filmmaking in the Nigerian market. It made Hollywood seem that much more greedy and insensitive to the cultural tastes and norms of other people.
Also, great choice in deciding to publish. Your research is ground-breaking and ready for the public stage. Academics and policy makers will take notice of your work and good things will come of it.
Best regards,
Tracy Anderson
Valencia Winston, I agree with you and have always respected artists works’ and avoided the temptation to take when it is so easy to do. Artists should be compensated for their work. Copyright has a place in this society.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also an interesting question about how far artists can be constricted. To create art an artist looks at the whole of the world and all that is in it including culture and history. Art takes on so many forms too such as political commentary, satire, documentaries, historical reenactments, painting, music, dance, and digital forms of who knows what can be done. That is a short list and could go on forever. No one can truly define what art is or isn’t.
We need a cultural shift and become more like other cultures in the world that value art for art’s sake rather than as you so finely stated, greed-based mentality that creates rot.
I love your point about the ancient pyramid’s and the value they have for the future civilizations that will eventually study them. How and why a society is successful, the contributions they make to invention and improvement, what they found to be interesting, how they governed, and how we all strive to become fair, humane and equitable people must be analyzed through all forms of human expression without thought to profit so that we can evolve.
Well said, Vee. I agree that the copyright laws are driven by greed. I respect an artist’s right to make money and continue to make money on his/her works, but the current laws restrict creativity and they make it impossible to future generations to learn about our culture. Your example of the hieroglyphics, drawings, and statues is spot-on. How can we learn about a culture if we cannot present all the information?
ReplyDeleteThe “Good Copy/Bad Copy” documentary was interesting. I thought it was anti-American and anti-establishment but useful and worthwhile. It was interesting to learn about the views of American copyright laws from other perspectives. The Nigerian and Brazilian philosophies on copyright were not based on greed. The Nigerian filmmakers just want to tell a story and the Brazilians just wanted their music to be heard. I thought that it was interesting the way the Brazilians made money from their work. It has nothing to do with the number of CDs sold. It has everything to do with exposure. The live events are how they make their money. Selling CDs on the spot after the event is brilliant. People can take with them a piece of personal history. The lack of copyright laws in Nigeria allows filmmakers to produce many films. According to the film, the US (Hollywood) produces only about 611 films per year. India produces about 900 films per year and Nigeria produces an overwhelming 1200 films per year. Admittedly, the acting and special effects are bad, but they are able to get their stories out there. They also release movies straight to DVD.
I am not sure there is a simple solution, but there needs to be change in the way the US government makes the rules regarding how people can use others’ works. I, too, look forward to learning more about this topic.
Great analysis of this week's issues. It really is about how we share our cultural heritage with the next generation and how that's effected when every image and story is the property of some media company. Something is missing...
ReplyDelete