Everything is a remix

The clearest illustration of the idea that everything is a remix, to me, is in the section on music. I never realized how extensively music was borrowed and even 'ripped off'. Sampling is not new, but has surely grown in popularity. The idea of reusing pieces of old music, or any sound really, has huge effects in music. One of my favorite songs features a sample of a James Baldwin speech. Sampling can be used to create specific effects, evoke strong emotions, or even tie a text to a cultural period. One form of remixing that is extremely prominent today is the creation of memes. In memes, characters, motifs, jokes, and sounds are recycled and remixed to create new meaning. Importantly, most memes can be approximately dated by examining their component elements. Similarly, remixing any text links the new text to that period in some way. The sample of James Baldwin evokes both the feeling and realities of the civil rights movement to create a particular feel.

When applied to a visual production (film, movie), the effects are even more pronounced -- samples or 'riffs' can invoke themes from entire feature-length films.

The biggest takeaway is that all creativity *starts* from copying -- but the major question, then, is when and how do we depart from copying? Should that be an explicit goal of creators, or is it really just a byproduct? Is copying really just for learning (as is suggested at one point) or is it a valid form of expression for writers? Can there be a 'master' of copying, as there are master writers, etc.?