Appropriation

Ben Selin

Comm313

01/03/2012

Appropriation

1.     The Pictures Generation

a.     The Pictures Generation included artists like Cindy Sherman, Robert Longo, David Salle, Richard Prince, Jack Goldstein and Sherrie Levine. Although not mentioned in the article in my opinion Andy Warhol was a kind of precursor and inspirer to the Pictures Generation.

b.     The Pictures Generation grew up in an age of political turmoil and media avalanches.

c.     Their work exuded a rebel attitude that was exemplified in their work. Most of the Pictures Generation’s art was little more than appropriated images cut out or collaged with others. They often created funny scenarios or powerful ideas that any one image couldn’t have shown.

d.     Not all of the Pictures Generation art was appropriated. Some art was original photography staged for the occasion. Often, artists recreated original art work in their own light. Toys were also often used as subjects of their photos.

2.     Fair Use

a.     In the article Richard Prince’s Canal Zone series of photos was accused of copyright infringement. Richard Prince used the defense of fair use. In this case I think fair use is a bit questionable. One of the big fair use rules uses parody to justify it, but only by parodying the actual art being used. In the case of Prince’s works they are more parodying society which did not hold over with Jim Koons us of Art Rodger’s photo “Puppies”. In this case I tend to agree. Prince’s modified photos are interesting and do add something to them, but is it fair use? I’m hesitant to say yes.

b.     An example of fair use on the internet is the creation of thumbnails for use in search engines. I totally agree with this use. It makes sense that search engines should be able to create these thumbnails to make searching much easier. At first it seems an obvious example of fair use, but if you really think about it the search engines are creating exact of copies of original copy written works. The ruling is that they are small enough and are not meant to be viewed at the size of the original work.

3.     Appropriation

a.     I think the internet has completely muddled the fair use laws and they should be retooled. People tend to use pictures they find on the internet without ever thinking about and I think it should be ok to do so. People who don’t want their work used should be more careful by including watermarks and keeping resolutions low.

b.     With that in mind I am a profound user of other people’s work. I tend to forget that other people should receive money for me using it or modifying it. It is just so easy to count something that you doctored and modified to be your own original work. I tend to very casual with intellectual property, being a kid money and property in that sense has so much less meaning it is easy to forget that it’s technically stealing. Also me being so young I think I would be flattered to have someone use my work. Although I would probably want some sort of compensation.

c.     On the other hand I work for a professional photographer and he is very particular about people using his property and using other people’s property. In his line of work it is very important to uphold these copyright laws. He wouldn’t have a job if people could steal is photos off of his website or by other means.