Wk1 Comment Two

Nancy Madrigal's comment:
I can honestly say that I miss buying records, especially since I grew up listening to music on vinyl. It could be the combination of the sound that came from vinyl to having to wait to get home to listen the latest tune. However, I also remember going to parties and hearing the DJ mix two records in order to compose a complex unique sound. He (or she) would get a beat from one record and mix in the lyrics from the other. In Good Copy/Bad Copy, a film about copyright and piracy, the Brazilian DJ demonstrated this same technique and I never really considered this as a form piracy. I found DJ’ing both as a compliment to the original artists and creative on the DJ’s part. However, upon viewing the film, I soon started to question my opinion(s).


The question of copyrighting information has definitely been an issue around the globe. Good Copy/Bad Copy offered a new insight on how different people from diverse countries viewed this particular topic. However, unlike the USA, Nigerians have not really taken this matter too seriously (especially in the film industry). Understandably, artists have suffered financially due to people obtaining music through digital downloading and as stated in the film, downloading “free” music will probably never end. Toward the end of the film, the presenters made a point that eventually copyrighting will most likely have to go away. There has been a paradigm shift in how we obtain our media and the new generation is one that obtains theirs from both remixing and editing.


The article entitled 10 Big Myths About Copyright Explained by Brad Templeton cleared up several questions that I surely had. I was under the impression that names do not get a copyright, but rather a trademark. I was also enlightened to know that criminal law doesn’t apply to cases that involve copyright. Lastly, although it doesn’t hurt anyone and copyright can be considered free advertising (as seen in myth #9), the underlying theme is that copyright is really about the permission aspect and giving the author/creator credit and power.


I understand both sides of this argument because I too, create. I design jewelry and clothing and I would, after much work and dedication, hate for someone to take my ideas. As the article stated, it is about respecting the rights of the creator to control “their” creation. On the other hand, I also find it flattering that my ideas are worth “copying”. This subject matter is definitely a great topic for an interesting debate.


I welcome your comments and thoughts on this subject.

My Comment: Nancy, the way you tell your opinion are wonderfully detailed and easy to understand and read. I love reading history and English teachers blogs because we can tell a good story. Besides patting you on the back, I want to say that memories of buying and using eight track, vinyl, or CDs are really the same ... okay I immediately take that back. My love too is for vinyl. It is something about putting that needle on the album and hearing those weird but relaxing sounds it makes before the music begins to play. There is nothing like it. However if you don't have that experience and all you know is, for instance, iTunes your passion could be the same but I doubt it. I think what we lose in this culture is the connectivity. It is using all the senses to really get a passion for things. The downloading culture is missing making an attempt to buy the music you know your parents wouldn't let you listen to, opening the package, looking at the album cover and its contents, and touching it to play the music. It's gone. And where does it end? Hearing the different ideas about copyright and fair use has left me grasping for straws on how can I ensure my students maintain our culture while creating their own without looking like a hypocrite. I want to ensure that even in a culture that is solely a capitalist society that they can still find creative venture and make it their own without footing the bill.