I was taking a look at the about page over to the right and I thought this needed a bit more of a formal introduction. As I will not be able to physically attend the conference, this blog will have to function as my mouth piece, representing me and the Youtube Creatives that took me in as their equal over the past two months.
This project is not yet a paper, rather it is a collection of video files somehow related to a little video I posted about four months ago I lovingly call “The Youtube Poop Manifesto.” Using an ugly mix of Lawrence Lessig’s theories and Don Tapscott’s idealistic musings about the Net Generation, I had inadvertently launched headfirst into an online remix community much more diverse and dynamic than I had ever imagined. These remixers take any raw video imaginable, tear it to pieces, and re-assemble it in forms almost unrecognizable from the source material. If you take a look around on the site you will see some examples. I am also hoping to post a few links with my video presentation to highlight some examples of the form.
All I want to say from all of this is simple. We debate copyright policy and Lessig writes books about decriminalizing our kids. These remixers are fighting the war we sit around and talk about. They constantly fear the deletion of their accounts and the loss of their material. In fact a movement has begun to build safe spaces to store videos in hard copy so mass deletions do not threaten the body of an entire artists work.
Their history is long, their behavior is often erratic and scary, yet their creativity and loyalty to a young and increasingly vulnerable art are worthy of academic discussion and study.
I humbly present their work to you with confidence and pride. Thank you.
