THE SCENE: Walt has ripped off Hey You from Pink Floyd for his high school talent contest. After being discovered, he’s brought in to see the school therapist, Mr Waddles, who confronts him on the issue.
WALT: I felt I could’ve written it.
MR. WADDLES: Okay. But you didn’t. It was written by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. I think you know that.
WALT: Yes, but I felt I could’ve so the fact that it was already written was kind of a technicality.
From The Squid and The Whale
Plagiarism makes no damned sense. Mind you, I’m not talking about absent-mindedly borrowing a quote here or mentioning an idea there. I’m talking about the wholesale and intentional stealing of images and words to create a false representation of who you are.
There was Jasmine Star and Doug Gordon. More recently, there was Rob Adams on Creative Live. There was even Shia Laboeuf, who not only ripped off an entire comic book, but – wait for it – plagiarized the apology. What the hell is wrong with this world?
I can understand the temptation. But that’s the thing – the temptation shouldn’t be that easy to understand. We’re so used to chasing the money, we don’t give a thought to trading-in the dream for it. In fact, it’s so easy to understand plagiarism, that almost every discussion begins not with the shock that someone stole, but with the shock that someone thought they could get away with it.
In other words, we’re not saying the people are idiots for stealing. We’re saying they’re idiots for thinking they wouldn’t get caught. And while it may go without saying, in a day and age where students see it as par for the course, and, let’s face it, how many of us haven’t cribbed some homework or a bit of a paper, it certainly deserves the mention: when we steal, we are being idiots, too.
Why? Because the whole act of stealing creative output instantly confuses and inverts the point of creativity. It’s not just an offense to those you take from. It’s an affront to yourself. Creativity isn’t a means to an end, where we seek to be, so we can become. You don’t pursue acts of self-expression for the sake of fame and fortune. You do it, because it lets you live your life more richly, whereas stealing just makes life cheap. It’s like having someone else lift your weights for you at the gym. What would be the point?
Maybe it’s all-too-natural in this quick-fix world, grounded by materialism and the all-mighty dollar, but the act of plagiarism is one of self-removal. It’s extracting yourself from your very own life in favor of the lives of others. It’s choosing to say I do not believe in the process of discovery. I do not believe in living life in the first person. I don’t want to feel it myself. It’s saying the real value of the world is not the beauty and the wonder. Instead, it’s believing in a duller and deader universe where striving, believing, and loving are forgone in favor of dollars, cents, likes, and metrics. A world, where that paradoxically asks you to cash in on your own existence by giving it up.
But you have a choice. You can believe in your own power and invest in your ability, knowing that when you do, you will have everything you need right there with you all the time. Or you can give in to a world of infinite fear, where your only security comes from the validation of others and the unending pursuit of more. Take your pick.
Spencer,
I enjoy the various genres of content you share here, from actionable business advice videos to tough-love inspiration to kick my butt out of my own depression, and this piece is something else entirely. It’s just as well-written and inspirational, but its insight is so much broader than just photography.
Brilliant, sir.
Spencer,
I enjoy the various genres of content you share here, from actionable business advice videos to tough-love inspiration to kick my butt out of my own depression, and this piece is something else entirely. It’s just as well-written and inspirational, but its insight is so much broader than just photography.
Exceptional, sir.
(Anyone get what I just did?)
See what you did there Gary. Exceptional Sir! ;0)
Interesting article. Have often replicated video effects gain understanding of how to achieve said effect. I do not “copy” videos. I then have another tool to use as and when, in my creations. Have also had a few instances of my videos being – well, lets say, being clearly used for inspiration, in then, very similar videos. While it was slightly annoying, it was slightly also complimentary. Would have preferred them to come up with other ideas that might inspire others but there you go. Maybe they were going through a similar process of discovery to my own?
It’s a fine line, particularly with photography, between inspiration and copying. I know after attending a seminar or workshop and having being inspired by something I’ve seen, attempting to replicate what I remember on a shoot.
Is this plagiarism? Is it drawing inspiration?
I’m guessing it’ll depend on who you ask – the original photographer; who may also have been inspired to produce that same photo shown at their workshop.
One thing is certain, there was a lot less concern before the internet and it’s probably going to become more rife in the future.
Just found some while visiting in North Carolina. The salesperson at the liquor store pointed it out when I asked if they offered any gluten-free beers. However, when I looked at the bottle I did not see gluten free anywhere on it, only “eco-friendly”. I went and did a google search asking if it was gluten-free and it brought me here. I’m happy to see that it has been favorably reviewed. Now to see for myself. Can’t wait!