Opening Remix Culture at Nelson-Atkins 2008

Short
Visiting artist Jon Phillips will analyze the state of remix culture and mashups and questions whether they are sustainable cultural software that has the potential to run continuously and further expand into the mainstream of contemporary art.

Long
The myth of sole authorship is perpetuated throughout contemporary culture. With the mass popularization of remix culture through You Tube videos, inexpensive media production software, and cheap broadband, anyone can chop audio samples, blend multiple sources of video, globally broadcast mixes, and more easily access and create works collaboratively. But what is so broad about the band, and who or what is in the band? And, if no content in these broad pipes is new, is there some proximity of originality between works to that some may be considered more original than others? How does this play out in the global and art economies? While not rehashing obvious connections to the previous art histories of collage, appropriation and new remix, this program will actively analyze the state of the remix culture and mashups and question whether they are sustainable cultural software that has the potential to run continuously, evolve, and further expand into the mainstream of contemporary art. Videos will be shown from the vast Internet archive collection, You Tube, and other sources from around the world. Also, the implications of copyright law and piracy on the state of art as commodity and a critical look at future sustainable models of intellectual property that are being rapidly constructed around content industries will be explored, including my Fabricatorz.com.

Presentation
Friday, Sept 19 7-9 PM, 75-90 Minutes


 * Introduction
 * bocomo->KC->SD
 * pat/gwen, cybersite, me too busy, umkc, etc
 * set-up that all work is collaborative
 * Open Source
 * inkscape (example)
 * openclipart.org / openfontlibrary.org
 * all creativity is collaborative (howard becker)...mona lisa
 * Remix
 * hip-hop and other quick history of hip-hop
 * musique concrete
 * jamaican dub (sound systems)
 * jamaican kids in NYC
 * amen break video (18 min)
 * Other kinds
 * remix culture video (5 min)
 * Banksy images
 * Swoon (hint at upcoming OM project)
 * Overlap.org with Willits
 * problem of copyright, ability to operate in sustainable way
 * CC
 * explain cc
 * human interface to cc
 * ccmixter.org
 * jamglue, splicemusic
 * China
 * back dormitory boys
 * deerfang videos
 * fabricatorz.com
 * cantocore.com
 * Now
 * Conclusion
 * ultimate remix, cultural remix
 * remix embedded into details
 * now, legal vs. illegal, pick your side
 * Questions
 * parents :)

Ideas

 * damien hirst
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/arts/design/16auct.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=c8e6f3516fceca91&ex=1379304000&partner=facebook&exprod=facebook


 * copy slideshow
 * talk about me
 * frame next me steps
 * relate to KC life, sf life, china life, and back

Media

 * stealthisfilm.com
 * bigbuckbunny.com
 * souljaboy
 * two-chinese boys
 * openclipart.org
 * openfontlibrary.org
 * inkscape.org
 * wikipedia.org
 * openlibrary.org
 * flickr.com (remixes?)
 * youtube.com
 * blip.tv
 * vimeo.com
 * splicemusic.com
 * jamglue.com
 * ccmixter.org (christopherwillits.com)
 * political commentary?
 * amen break
 * art presentation at vt art salon
 * seoul art presentation