MATT+MCMASTER

What is a remix? The word remix to me means that an original idea or piece of work has been used in a new way, in turn creating a new piece of original work. The type of remix that immediately comes to mind is a music remix, which may in fact incorporate a sample from an older or a contemporary song. Generally when these samples are used, they are usually very well known songs. I don't listen to too many remixed songs, but I do enjoy a lot of music that incorporates samples from other musical works. After looking up a definition for the word 'remix,' I found an answer that defined a remix as "producing a different version of (a musical recording) by altering the balance of the separate tracks." I wasn't sure if the word "remix" could be applied to other forms of media outside of music such as, film or television, but after reading the definition, it seems that the term only applies to music. I have attached links below to two of my favorite remixes. I am not 100% sure if they are remixes by technical standards, but they do each incorporate samples from famous pieces of music.
 * __Reflection #1:__**

Pretty Lights- "Hot Like Sauce" This song uses a variety of different samples incorporated with original instrumentals. One sample from this song is taken from the song "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin. []

Clint Mansell- "Requiem for a Dream" This song is the original score from the film "Requiem for a Dream." The first time that I heard this song, I couldn't believe how well made it was. While there may be more than one sample occurring in this song, the only one that I know of is Mansell's use of one of my favorite classical pieces of all time. Mozart's "Requiem: The Mass for the Dead." []

__**Reflection #2:**__ Using copyrighted materials as the basis for your own work can be and generally is a very tricky feat to successfully achieve. If your use of the copyrighted material is not lawfully paid for, or if your work does not transform the original material to a large enough extent, you could possibly be setting yourself up for a hefty lawsuit; however, there are several different types of ways in which you can actually use another persons work without falling victim to copyright infringement. One way is through the use of transformative work which consists of changing the original work and using it in a new way; however, there are many shades of gray in terms of what constitutes enough transformation of the original work. Another way of using copyrighted material that is closely linked to transfomative work, is through the implementation of "fair use" of the original work. The way that our images are in compliance with the regulations regarding original work and "fair use" deal primarily with the idea that our images are transformative in several ways. The way that our images transform the original work is through the use of changing certain elements from the original image in addition to adding other images, which make the overall appearance more along the lines of a collage. Another reason as to why our images are a form of transformative work is because our images are using other photographs to provide information in an educational manner. Overall, one of the main ways to apply the notion of "fair use" to copyrighted material is through actually paying for the proper licenses from the official owners of an original piece of work. By purchasing the proper licenses, you put yourself at the least amount of risk possible. All in all, regarding the use of other artists' work to create your own piece of work can be and usually is a very tricky thing to do, but in the end I feel that the safest thing to do would be to transform the work, abide by "fair use" regulations, and to pay for the proper licenses.