Movie Responses

RIP! A Remix Manifesto

RIP: A Remix Manifesto has given me a new insight on copyright laws and the affects they have. Today, copyright laws seem to be all over the place. For example, the movie mentions that you can quote an author, cite their work, and you’ll be fine. However, for a film you can only use a small portion of another’s work if it is to make a point, and for music it’s basically impossible to use any part of someone else’s work. To me, this makes very little sense. If the law was standard across all platforms, with specific details on amount of usage, giving credit, etc. for each, I feel as though things would go much smoother.

The film supports its idea of copyright laws inhibiting creativity by surrounding its argument around Gaylord’s Manifesto. This Manifesto describes how the past shapes the future, and how culture builds on the past.  While I agree with its general idea, I do not agree with the entire argument the film makes using it. I do think people should be able to use and build upon each others work, but with limitation. I think if the laws defined how much of another’s work someone could use and how to properly give credit, and people followed these rules, then would of creativity could be a much better place.

One area of copyright the film doesn’t address is, if no one pays for the artist’s work, how can the artist survive? And honestly, I’m not sure how this does work out. If the laws changed to allow specific amounts of use, it could also add a cost for a higher amount or potentially to use all of the others work, such as needing a full song for a movie or commercial. I have no idea how realistic that idea is, but I think it could be a way to make both sides happy.

Overall, I thought the film was really interesting. It definitely brings a new light to something many people don’t think about. I hope that they make a follow-up on any changes that have happened since the film came out, and any changes that happen in the future. They made everything very relatable and explained things well, and even if you don’t agree with all or part of their argument, it’s still an interesting film to watch.