i experienced the crime of idea stealing this weekend. It left me totally unsettled.
At what point does inspiration end, and 'selling out' as an artist with ideals begin? When a person learns an art - from an artist - then monopolizes on that same artists ideas… and sells the things that are inspired by that artist, is this stealing? I'll be honest - I don't mind stealing ideas from american eagle necklaces, and making them myself. But at what point does the respect in the artistic community become trampled upon?? My parents always said, when my sisters 'copied' me, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
We're getting into prada knockoff territory here folks… give me some room.
When do we, as consumers, and we, as artists, have to step back, and give a little respect?
So I did some research (because it's me, for crying out loud!!). There are lawyers specializing in it (specifically in movie and television), there are fights with celebritys and stores, and websites which take on the form of a sort of 'better business bureau' for artists, and all ideas.
At what point does inspiration end, and 'selling out' as an artist with ideals begin? When a person learns an art - from an artist - then monopolizes on that same artists ideas… and sells the things that are inspired by that artist, is this stealing? I'll be honest - I don't mind stealing ideas from american eagle necklaces, and making them myself. But at what point does the respect in the artistic community become trampled upon?? My parents always said, when my sisters 'copied' me, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".
We're getting into prada knockoff territory here folks… give me some room.
When do we, as consumers, and we, as artists, have to step back, and give a little respect?
So I did some research (because it's me, for crying out loud!!). There are lawyers specializing in it (specifically in movie and television), there are fights with celebritys and stores, and websites which take on the form of a sort of 'better business bureau' for artists, and all ideas.
Is the internet adding fuel to the fire? There are countless websites with 'how to' instructions on creating your own ____ (fill in blank).
I guess fashion has been doing this forever - as the 'devil' (and the store 'stitches') reminds us - but the lines are blurry…
I guess fashion has been doing this forever - as the 'devil' (and the store 'stitches') reminds us - but the lines are blurry…
"Miranda Priestly: [Miranda and some assistants are deciding between two similar belts for an outfit. Andy sniggers because she thinks they look exactly the same] Something funny?
Andy Sachs: No, no, nothing. Y'know, it's just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. Y'know, I'm still learning about all this stuff.
Miranda Priestly: This... 'stuff'? Oh... ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don't know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean. You're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn't it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff."
Anyways - I conclude fruitless.