Sunday, January 22, 2006

free culture: "mere copyists"

Continuing my review of Lessigs book.

Ch. 2: "mere copyists"

The "mere copyists" are photographers.

It was once argued that photographers were "pirates", taking something from the person or building that they shot. But overall the Court ruled in favour of the "pirates", with some exceptions.

Photography was once too expensive for ordinary people. Similarly today, new literacies such as film and computer games are now coming within the reach of ordinary people to make, not just receive. Teachers already teach reading and writing of words. This is being extended to the reading and writing of multi media.

It is now possible for school students to make films and computer games. This involves learning new tools, new crafts, creativity, expression, collaboration and communication. This has the potential to reach students in new ways - through motivation and visual / kinesthenic learning.

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Democracy has atrophied in America.
We, the most powerful democracy in the world, have developed a strong norm against talking about politics. It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you agree with. (42)
Blogs signify the potential rebirth of democracy.

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The freedom people need today is the freedom to tinker with multimedia - text, images, music, film.

But that freedom is under threat from the law and technology - this argument is developed in the course of this book.

The architecture of the internet and the legal system are in conflict.
... we are building a legal system that completely suppresses the natural tendencies of today's digital kids ... We're building an architecture that unleashes 60 percent of the brain [and] a legal sytem that closes down that part of the brain.
- John Seely Brown

1 Comments:

Blogger botts said...

The architecture of the internet and the legal system are in conflict.... we are building a legal system that completely suppresses the natural tendencies of today's digital kids ... We're building an architecture that unleashes 60 percent of the brain [and] a legal sytem that closes down that part of the brain.

and yet our kids still continue to exercise their creative energies despite the laws and the possibility of significant consequences. the kids still swap music and mash up videos and we see fan fiction (both textual and video based) flourishing. they see the 'keep off the grass' signs and immediately ask why? and then walk across the grass to see what is going to happen if they do what someone else has suggested they shouldn't.

have a great day

botts
bottsplace at westnet dot com dot au
http://bottsplace.blogspot.com

12:34 PM  

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