So this guy is pretty interesting, copyrighting sounds pretty dry to start with but when you scratch the surface it develops through copying, hacking, piracy, to really interesting stuff like originality, creativity and i guess democracy. What with that lecture i went to (check the old blogs), this, and some other stuff, i think i could really get into a project about it (after this year obv, no harm in playing around though). Lessig also has a few books about, including a new one called 'Free Culture', which sounds really fascinating, of course it is downloadable for free as a pdf so i'll let you know when i'm done with that, this is the link: Free Culture
Own It
I went to a lecture on the 23rd at the LCC on the could-be-boring topic of copyright and infringement. I turned up because some sweet dudes were talking: A lawyer (whose name i forget, apologies), Michael Johnson of Johnson Banks, Paul (i think Brazier) from AMV BBDO, and Kjell Ekhorn of Non-Format fame. Incidentally Kjell is one of my favourite guys ever- I've loved his work like most for, years but he talked with intelligence, conviction and wit too- good guy. Actually all were, especially Paul who was great to listen to and, whilst described (in a negative way) by the MC Michael Johnson as an Ad-Man, he spoke more like an academic, despite obviously being a highly competent practitioner- i think that's how i want to be. Anyway the subject predictably wasn't bland and shit and moved rapidly from copyrighting to cliche, pop-culture, originality and working practice. Really interesting stuff- thought I'd note down as much for myself, some of the notes i made. Start with what you don't want and work with the opposite. (i.e. for a boat company don't draw a boat) - Originality. Originate. - Looking. Appreciation. Regurgitation. - Graphic design is Craft. - Make your own voice / language. - Culture as language = style as language. - the problem occurs if you copy the current style (or does it become a movement?), no-one would stop you copying modernism. - rip off pop-culture and make it your own. - "when we feel we're in a crowded space, we just move on." (Kjell Ekhorn on Non-Format's style. - We're all one big studio.