Cultural Production In The Digital Age: Barriers and Incentives 11 October 2007 Kathy E. Gill

11 October 2007 Kathy E. Gill

Web 2.0 technologies change how we interact with digital cultural objects. We are no longer merely a consumer; we are also a producer. This is a shift from the late 20th century model:

Web 2.0 technologies change how we interact with digital cultural objects. We are no longer merely a consumer; we are also a producer.

This is a shift from the late 20th century model:

What are the cultural industries? News media Advertising industry Television & movies Music Fashion What else?

News media

Advertising industry

Television & movies

Music

Fashion

What else?

Traditional Model Mediated Communication: One-way Mass Communication Model Transition to circular (Osgood & Schramm) interpersonal model

Mediated Communication:

One-way Mass Communication Model

Transition to circular (Osgood & Schramm) interpersonal model

In a Digital World, It Is Easier to Borrow, Copy, Manipulate

This means it is technically easier to express ourselves in new, creative ways.

The pejorative: The cult of the amateur SuperBowl Commercials YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate

SuperBowl Commercials

YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate

Quotable “[N]on-commercial cultural production and unconstrained expression within the Internet undermines capitalism’s production of meaning.” p135 - from Michael Strangelove, The Empire of Mind (University of Toronto Press, 2005)

“[N]on-commercial cultural production and unconstrained expression within the Internet undermines capitalism’s production of meaning.” p135 - from Michael Strangelove, The Empire of Mind (University of Toronto Press, 2005)

The Clash Culture as a freely flowing current of ideas and practices runs head first into culture as intellectual property

Culture as a freely flowing current of ideas and practices runs head first into culture as intellectual property

The Barrier: Copyright Copyright originated in a time when the view of authors was romantic: "originality was elevated to being located in and belonging to the self of the author" ... words created by these authors were considered "original" and thus distinguishable from mass-produced commodities. (Lessig, presentation, Copyright, Cultural Production and Open Content Licensing)

Copyright originated in a time when the view of authors was romantic: "originality was elevated to being located in and belonging to the self of the author" ... words created by these authors were considered "original" and thus distinguishable from mass-produced commodities. (Lessig, presentation, Copyright, Cultural Production and Open Content Licensing)

Copyright Expansion In 1709, copyright lasted 14 years Today, 60-90 years

In 1709, copyright lasted 14 years

Today, 60-90 years

Copyright Reach Originality was required in copyright law, historically Today, only de minimis originality (examples from book) Watch YouTube Clip

Originality was required in copyright law, historically

Today, only de minimis originality (examples from book)

Watch YouTube Clip

Copyright Scope A movement from protecting the "copy" to the "idea" Watch YouTube Clip

A movement from protecting the "copy" to the "idea"

Watch YouTube Clip

Incentives Change the licenses Creative Commons Free Art GNU

Change the licenses

Creative Commons

Free Art

GNU

General Characteristics Right to access or use Right to make copies Right to make modifications Right to distribute Right to create derivative works

Right to access or use

Right to make copies

Right to make modifications

Right to distribute

Right to create derivative works

Digital technologies enable a "Tinkering culture" -- a "read write rip burn culture"

Sources Image - graffitti http://www.slideshare.net/imootee/web-20-and-media-20-presentation Lessig, L. (n.d.) Copyright, Cultural Production and Open Content Licensing. Retrieved 10 October 2007 from https://pzwart.wdka.hro.nl/mdr/pubsfolder/liangessay/view

Image - graffitti http://www.slideshare.net/imootee/web-20-and-media-20-presentation

Lessig, L. (n.d.) Copyright, Cultural Production and Open Content Licensing. Retrieved 10 October 2007 from https://pzwart.wdka.hro.nl/mdr/pubsfolder/liangessay/view