Andreas Self-directed methods 17-10-18
Session two: Reviewing self-directed research
Edited version: 07. November 2018
I am working on a project that deals with the question of original work. Where does inspiration end and where does copying start? With that question in mind I want to make a film that is a copy from someone elses work. The research will be clustered in three phases: As a first exercise I will copy the file of a film. The bytesize of the copied file will be the same, but the metadata for example will differ: when has this file been created? When has it been changed? Changing even this metadata to mirror the „original“ file will help in more and more creating the perfect copy. (which is already leading to further questions of Originality. Which file really is original? The file that the authors filmcamera created? The file that the creator then exported after editing it in the program of choice? The file that then has been optimized for uploading? This game of questions could be kept on and on)
Subsequently I want to alter the film with cropping, cutting, recoloring, or filtering it. In the end I want to shoot a film that should be like the same as the original work OR that resembles the same content.
Mainly I have two reasons why I want to be working on this: The first reason is research based. Everyone is drawing inspiration from the works of others. At the same time one wants to stay away from outright copying those works. Sometimes without intention the line is being crossed. How can one avoid copying, while still taking something from the designs that inspires him/her? Speaking of myself, there are a number of designers who’s work I admire and I tend to pay attention to what they do and say and seek to incorporate some of their work into my own. Even though – when drawing inspiration – it is easy to cross over into copying. How can one stay on the right side of the line? Copying is part of day to day life: Either one learned to play the notes of a song exactly as heard. Or – a developer copies and pastes code that was found on a website or in a book. Also designers mimic the type, grids and color of those that inspire them. The second reason is more practical, since I want to film more and evolve in this field.
Before, I have already been doing something similar. I was creating a riso-printed zine that was documenting silly YouTube Videos in illustrations. Even though I „made my own work“ out of that, I was making screenshots and in this way copying the content.
It is different to other things that I have done before in the terms, that I am making myself free of any thoughts to create something truly original.
Since I previously was working much more on communication design in the field of editorial design and photography, I now want to focus more on moving images as a genre/technique. So that is one of the most significant choices that I have made recently.
First version: 17. October 2018
What are you making?
Where does inspiration end and where does copying start?
I want to make a film that is a copy from someone elses work. It should be research in three phases: 1.) copy the file of a film 2.) altering the film. cropping, cutting, recoloring, filtering 3.) shoot a film that should like the same as the original work OR that resembles the same content
Why are you making it?
Reason number 1 is research based:
Everyone is drawing inspiration from the works of others. At the same time one wants to stay away from outright copying those works. Sometimes without intention the line is being crossed. How can one avoid copying, while still taking something from the designs that inspires him/her?
Speaking of myself, there are a number of designers who’s work I admire and I tend to pay attention to what they do and say and seek to incorporate some of their work into my own.
Even though – when drawing inspiration – it is easy to cross over into copying. How can one stay on the right side of the line?
Copying is part of day to day life: Either one learned to play the notes of a song exactly as heard. Or – a developer copies and pastes code that was found on a website or in a book. Also designers mimic the type, grids and color of those that inspire them.
Reason number 2 is practical: I want to film more and evolve in this field.
Does it relate to other things you have done?
I was once doing a riso-printed zine that was documenting silly YouTube Videos and illustrated them in this zine. Even though I „made my own work“ out of that I was making screenshots and in this way copying the content.
How is it different to other things you have done?
It is different that Andi is making himself free of any thoughts to create something original.
What are the most significant choices have you made recently?
Previously I was working much more on communication design in the field of editorial design and photography. Now I want to focus more on moving images as a genre/technique.
Literature and Links:
- Arum, R., & Roksa, J. (2011). Academically Adrift: Limited learning on College Campuses. University of Chicago Press.
- Bauerlein, M. (2008). The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future (or, Don’t Trust Anyone Under 30). Jeremy P. Tarcher.
- Murray, J. H. (2005). The last word on ludology v narratology in game studies. DiGRA 2005 Conference: Changing views of worlds in play.
- Schrijver, Eric (2018). Copy this Book. ISBN 978-94-91677-93-9
- DeLappe, Joseph (2015). Leviathan copypaste artbooks
Steve suggests:
- [Steve suggests] Books: The Culture of the Copy: Striking Likenesses, Unreasonable Facsimiles By Hillel Schwartz (MIT/Zone books)
- Life, Once More: Forms of reenactment in contemporary art By Sven Lutticken, Witte de With, Rotterdam, 2005
- Uncreative Writing by Kenneth Goldsmith, (2011)
- Remainder by Tom McCarthy
- [Steve suggests] Films:The Threepenny Opera (1931) by Pabst. Pabst made TWO VERSIONS of the same film, one in German and one in French, using the same sets and extras. Play them at the same time and wonder at the result.
- Dual language versions are also made of the TV series The Norsemen (English and Swedish).
- I think that Gus van Saint also made a re-make of Psycho: shot for shot.
- [Steve suggests] Art:
- The Eternal Frame by Ant Farm (1975)
- The “appropriation art” movement of the 90s and 2000s
- See also 1990s / 2000s re-enactment work of Pierre Huygue
- Other re-enactment work from that period by J Deller; Rod Dickinson; Omar Fast &c.