Copyright: The Death of Creativity?

          If I were asked what my favorite genre of music is, undoubtedly I would answer, “alternative remixes.” Some might argue that indeed there is no such thing as an alternative remix genre. Sure, on formal music purchasing sites, such as iTunes, there is no place for such a genre. However, music-sharing websites such as Soundcloud and 8tracks have these genres, along with a seemingly endless amount of other tags, categories, and types to choose from. I personally am partial to the music-sharing website 8tracks because it allows users to create playlists and share remixes, mashups, and covers while also promoting up and coming artists. The amount of creativity and ingenuity I have encountered on this site is so incredibly inspiring to me, even motivating me to create playlists of my own. However, it is blaringly obvious that copyright infringement is not something that is high on anyone’s list when they are creating these remixes and sharing these playlists. To them, it’s about sharing creative content, not worrying to follow the rules of fair use.

          One remix I encountered from an ironically named playlist dubbed “Mix of Remix” was called “No Angels.” This song is a remix of the TLC hit “No Scrubs” that is covered by the British artist Bastille combined with the background instrumentals of the xx song “Angels, which is then layered over with voice tracks from the movie Psycho.  To me, this remix is pure genius. Bastille’s ethereally enchanting voice coincides perfectly with the moody lyrics about men with no ambition, which is then placed in juxtaposition with Norman Bates’ intimate conversation about life’s traps and obligations, especially to his mother. In my humble opinion, this song is the quintessence of the remix culture. However, I’m sure if any copyright lawyer had free range on this remix, they would have an absolute field day. Consequently, the documentary “Good Copy, Bad Copy” highlights how sorry a state our society is in for punishing artists for making creative work such as “No Angels.” The filmmakers place popular “remixer” artist, Girl Talk, on the forefront of the copyright war that has taken over the world.

            In the beginning of the documentary, the man behind Girl Talk, Greg Gillis, asks a simple question: why go after someone who is clearly just trying to make music? (2:14) Why do huge corporations care about some young guy making music on his laptop in his living room? Well, to be quite frank, money is the reason. The corporations and record labels that own the content of the work those artists, such as Girl Talk, are rapidly sampling, remixing, and mashing up, are terrified of loosing any money that could have been theirs. But with such overpowering copyright laws, who would want to take a crack at doing something creative since the consequences are so dire if you make on misstep?

            In the film, Lawrence Lessig highlights the unlimited power of the digital age where someone with a $1500 laptop can use sounds and images to say things about politics or culture directly to other people. (22:01) But as we know, “with great power, comes great responsibility.” With such easy access to content and the ability to create things with it, how can we keep our society in check? While Lessig acknowledges the need for copyright as a means to keep things from getting out of hand, he also points out that it has become so expansive and powerful that it inhibits creativity. (23:09) Although the big corporations and record labels recognize that there is simply no way to stop people from “taking advantage” of their “property”, they surely wish to make it as unappealing as possible to do so with their hefty fines, threatens to sue, and even prison sentences. Obviously there is a line between being creative with previous content and making it something new, and blatantly stealing something and calling it your own. However, if the foremost group is punished with almost equal severity as the latter group, then there is a clear need for reform.

            Towards the end of the film, Lessig states perhaps an obvious, but much needed to hear idea: freedom drives a more vibrant economy than restriction and control. (53:37) This idea resonated with me as I watched Greg Gillis remixing the tecno bregga remix of the Gnarls Barkley song, “Crazy.” How cool is it that creative content is being passed around the world to produce art that intimately connects people? In the end, Gillis makes the argument that “the most efficient way to have artistic growth is the passing down ideas from recycling ideas.” (57:16) The “Crazy” remixes, as well as the my beginning example of “No Angels”, both highlight the unlimited potential the internet and digital content has provided as a means to continue to produce art, whatever it may be.

-Clare Davis