Ereda Totaj: Appropriation

Historically appropriation is of some importance in the practise of art making, (well it is of importance but, I do not quit know what to make of it at the moment, because even though I do occasionally copy images for my work, I don’t know if I agree with it after the research I did). It’s the term used when artists and other people in the creative industries “borrow” if you will, images or sounds and manipulate them to form a whole new images or sound to what they would have previously have been.

Whilst doing research on this topic, I came across Cultural Appropriate in a book I read called Cultural Appropriation and the Arts. Inside it stated that “Artists from many countries are constantly engaging in Cultural Appropriation, Picasso famously appropriated Motifs which originated in the work of a African carvers” (Young, J 2010).

Picasso - Motifs

He goes on to say “A host of Novelists like Tony Hillterman have made the native culture of North America the subject matter of many of their books...A host of film makers have done the same thing including Disney’s Peter Pan (1953)”. I think cultural appropriation can cause to an extent some controversy and debate, you could argue that ethically the art could be an automatic failure and immoral. Personally am in two minds about this.

Rip Manifesto is a illegal media mash up, the group is made up of web activist Brett Gaylor and musician Greg Gillis also known as Girl Talk. They “serve as your digital tour guides on a probing investigation into how culture builds upon culture in the information age”. They have received props for their live performances. They aim to reposition popular music from band and artists but add a hind of wacky creative flare of their own to it, some see this as illegal actions what with copyrighting infringements and stuff. “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: "It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to." Jim Jarmusch.