Amanda+Miller

Reflection #1 A remix is a new version of an already existing art form. Elements of the form can be rearranged and new elements added to create a remix. Usually, when referring to a remix I think of music. Often artists make a remix of an original song that they have already completed. Many times the songs are made to sound more upbeat and are meant to be played in a club atmosphere and danced to. Also, often in remixes there is collaboration and a new artist is added to the song with the original artist. In addition to creating a new sound, this is also profitable for musicians. Remixes are often sold after the original song has already been released on an album. Since remixes are often favored over the original, fans will go out and buy the remix after already having the album. They are sold as a single or sometimes the entire alum is rereleased with additional songs added. This is smart marketing as the artist can profit greatly from just a little additional work. Remixes are also made by people other than the original artist. They can be done by disc jockeys to make a song more “dance-worthy” in a club. Copyright laws are important to consider in these circumstances and whenever remixing is done with anyone else’s work in order to make a profit, as one can get in a lot of trouble for stealing someone else’s ideas. After class on Monday, however, I can also say that remixes can apply to other works as well. For example, the collages we made in class used original materials from other sources that were rearranged to create something new. These can also be considered remixes. The term remix can also be applied to other creative works like videos and photography.

Reflection #2 We are able to use copyrighted material in project one because of the Doctrine of Fair Use. This doctrine allows the use of copyrighted material if it is being used in a way that is socially beneficial. For the purposes of our project, we are conducting research for scholarly use, as well as using our findings to teach the rest of the class about our topic. Therefore, we are well within the parameters of the rights of fair use. We are also able to use these materials because it is considered transformative use. We are modifying existing media and using it for our own purposes. The way we are using the material differs from the intention that the material was originally created for. Since our purpose is different than the original, we are able to use this material under fair use. Additionally, our project, as well as many others, may involve some form of criticism, which is also allowable under fair use. Furthermore, we are not using a large amount of someone else’s work. We are perhaps using one or two images or quotes from a particular source. Again, because we are using it for different purposes than its original intent, as well as transforming the material from its original state, and because we are not using any considerable amount that could be considered excessive, as though we are taking another individual’s entire idea and work and expressing it as our own, we are within our rights to use the copyrighted material under the Doctrine of Fair Use. Our project also involves a commentary in our script. Copyrighted material is also allowed to be used for the purpose of comment. The copyrighted images in our project will be used as examples to illustrate our commentary, as well as to ignite a discussion on a current cultural phenomenon, and for these additional reasons they are also allowable under fair use.