MOVIE RESPONSES

My Perception After Watching Remix Manifesto

When I first heard that the ADD 267 would be watching Remix Manifesto, I became very weary, and very livid about the notion. In my opinion, I do not approve of the remix culture - which is refabricating American culture.  I do not approve of the remix culture because, in my opinion, I think remixing is considered plagiarism.  For the most part, the remix artist steels other artist’s songs, distorts/changes the music, and claims the work as one’s own.  The movie, Remix Manifesto, provides a poorly executed and contradictory examples about the justification of remix culture.

Remix Manifesto discusses the political controversies about the remix culture in America, and how the American economy enforces plagiarism laws for copyrighted music.  Many of the copyright laws are heavily enforced due to problems with illegal downloading of music.  Though remix artist continue to remix different genres of music, and fuses multiple songs into one cohesive song, copyright and infringement problems still occur.  The majority of the information and first person insights of the problem from layers, copyright specialists, and, remix artist all gave their perspectives and insights about the remix culture. Also, the director of the movie encouraged viewers who watched the movie to remix and recreate their own versions of the movies.  The director of Remix Manifesto encouraged this type of behavior to create a point for the creation of the movie.

Many of Gaylor’s points are valid, and these points defend his argument.  However, I do not believe Galylor’s manifesto does not apply to today’s modern culture.  Many of his examples were skewed and inapplicable.  For example, the remix artist, My Girlfriend, is glorified in the movie for copyrighting many songs in his remix songs, and utilizing this music to enhance the quality of culture. Past culture has always reformed and reinvented ideas to progress culture, but modern culture is fierce and competitive. 

So, I do agree that enforcement of infringement and copyright laws are necessary.  Though, these laws can be extreme, and the American government abuses the power of the laws.  However, these laws protect artist from people who are legitimately stealing artist’s songs for their own personal gain.  For example, the artist who was steeling the Mickey Mouse cartoon, and claiming as his own work is morally and ethnically wrong.   Moreover, the remixing culture in Brazil seems to be ethical and progressive.  I enjoyed listening to how the natives are embracing remix culture, and the Brazilian government are becoming involved with the new trend.  I liked this because the community is willing to share instead of keeping music in federal jurisdiction.

Even though Brazil is becoming progressive in remix culture, the movie does not provide the artist’s prospective.  Artists need to be paid for their work, and will not economical survive!  In order for artist to be paid for their work, a process of buying and trading is necessary.  So if artist are not being paid for their work, the economy slowly losses it economic standpoint.  Eventually, the supply and demand of certain cinematic products will diminish in existence, and the worth of the art will decrease in value.  Though the variety of free online content providers are strongly increasing, I don’t think these online providers will shift economical changes.  It is a tool to utilize, but I don’t think these online resources are a sustainable resource.

Overall, it was painful to watch the movie.  However, I did learn many insights about the process and the history of infringement and copyright laws.  Also, I enjoyed understanding the different perspectives about remixing culture.  Hopefully, I can cautiously take initiative to embrace the remix culture, and continue to be open-mined about new progressive culture.