Licensed Reaction Videos???

In Youtube, there are tons of reaction videos that share feelings with us. Due to the intrinsic nature of the reaction videos, most of them include the original version of the content as well. Therefore, there has been a danger of copyright infringement all the time. 

Given this reality, there has been very interesting attempt to "regulate" this unique culture. Fine Bros Reaction World, which is the most well-known Youtube creator of reaction videos, is trying to license those videos on Youtube. Will it be the solution for the advocates of copyright? or another clever trick to do some business?

Check out more information below.

http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/fine-bros-react-world-youtube-1201688987/

http://mashable.com/2016/01/28/the-fine-brothers-backlash/#CgBWihiehsqg

A parody video:

Creator: Mega64
Uploaded to YouTube: Jan 29, 2016
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRYnOPJiTaA

A nice review:

Creator: Boogie2988

Uploaded to YouTube: Jan 29, 2016

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN-vhZoO7wM

Corey Vidal, Star Wars, and Copyright

Creator: Corey Vidal 
Uploaded to YouTube: October 27, 2008 
Link: https://youtu.be/lk5_OSsawz4 

Corey Vidal is one of the most popular and widely reconized Canadian YouTube stars. He owns his own company, attended the Hollywood premiere of the new Star Wars movie, and has been an active member of the YouTube community since he was in high school. Just glancing at his channel or scrolling through his Facebook page, his overwhelming love of the Star Wars franchise is obvious. He even bought a giant BB-8 droid after the premiere! 

His channel is full of songs and ideas that are under copyright. The Star Wars tribute to John Williams was one of his most controversial (and popular) posts on YouTube. The video was removed for copyright issues, but later re-instated when he won the battle and competently argued fair use. The same thing happened with the Madonna song "4 Minutes". (Fun fact: Madonna encouraged her fans to take her song and use it in their videoes. Afterwards, the company holding the copyright removed all of their property from Youtube...except Vidal's, since he won.) Every copyright battle Vidal has come up against, he has won.

His YouTube channel, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram all pay homage to the art and culture that he loves so much (seriously, the man seems to love Star Wars).

Vidal's creative outputs are a prime example of using copyrighted materials to remix, reimagine, and interact with components that make up our culture. Despite the fact that all of his videos that came under fire promoted the ideas in a positive light, they were still targetted. 

This brings into question the ability to produce art, music, film, and videos in the future. If corporations are cracking down on using material for further creations, aren't they stiffling development, creativity, and inspiration? At what cost?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Fiction vs. Fanfiction

 
 One of the most common forms of remix culture is the re-writing of beloved stories. These can range from popular young adult fiction novels (Percy Jackson), to generally loved stories (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings). Fanfiction isn't only limited to re-imagining books. It can apply to a wide variety of media, including anime, films, and more. 

Fanfiction.net is one of the largest collections of the various types of fanfiction currently available on the internet. With the stories toppling the millions, fans and enthusiasts can take their favourite characters and mash them up into new and interesting ways. From re-arranging romantic relationships, to turning the protagonist into a bad guy, people all over the world can re-imagine and create stories to share within their own sub-groups.

Fanfiction is an active online community, frequently breaking apart minute details most wouldn't see, expanding the story line, and allowing their favourite tales to live in. In a way, actively producing fanfiction is a a way to recognize their favourite creators, and to pay homage to their legacy. 

Check out the variety of different fanfiction at Fanfiction.net. You never know what you might find. 

Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Political Parodies and Recuts (Obama sings Hotline Bling)

Original Poster: baracksdubs

Published: 14th December 2015

Original song: Hotline Bling by Drake



With nearly 6 million views in just over a month, clearly many people are enjoying the end product of remixing/re-mashing Obama's speeches with popular songs. What's interesting about these forms of remix, particularly in the case of political mash-ups, is the overwhelming response to political jargon in a not-so-traditional manner. It might be a stretch to call these remixes another form of participating in current political climates, but it may be defensible to claim that these recuts allow for gentle reminders to pay attention to what the political climate is stating. 



The above video is made for comedic purposes, but there are plenty more recuts and political parodies out there which nudge it's audience to realize what is at stake in an election year. Making parodies and mash ups is a way to highlight some really critical issues politicians are facing, along with what courses of action they intend to pursue. What better way is there to communicate what we believe politicians and presidential candidates are saying than to literally change the words coming out of their mouth?



I appreciate these forms of remixing because I believe they also add to a crucial and necessary conversation. They serve a purpose larger than it's original intent of the remix phenomenon.



Do you agree? If the remix/recut adds to a larger conversation that affects greater social outcomes (i.e. the Presidential election), is it valid in it's dissemination? Does it legitimize the process? 

Sassy George Washington!

One of the most inspired movements in remix culture has been the transformation of American art and history. And every time I see one of these images, I burst out laughing. I majored in history during my undergrad, and if anyone likes a good history joke, it's this guy. 

A Tumblr user by the name of Lady History has created a blend of modern culture and humour, with the paintings and portraits that are recognizable to many. Sticking with the common "style" of writing on tumblr (little punctuation, witty reparte), Lady History has changed how viewers interact with these images, especially through the lens of our own generation. 

While not all may understand the historical references of the paintings themselves, everyone can appreciate the "First World Problems" encountered by these figures. 

Check out Lady History's tumblr for much, much more!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Kanye West Crazy Interview REMIX (2013)

Creator: knocksteadyTV 
Uploaded to YouTube: September 30, 2013 
Link: https://youtu.be/CmJTE7wmTeo

Through the course of this project, a common theme in remix has become apparent to me: using celebrity interviews as a caricature of their more obnoxious qualities.

This interview with Kanye West is a prime example.

The creator remixed this interview in such a way that it actually sounds like a song (and a decent song, too!).

Like the court jesters of yester-year, remix culture allows artists, creators, and the public to collaborate and appreciate the entities that make up our culture - especially pop/celebrity culture. 

Enjoy!

Everything Wrong With "Inside Out" in 10 Minutes or Less

Creator: CinemaSins 
Uploaded to YouTube: November 17, 2015 
Link: https://youtu.be/07isJX3XTBQ

One of my favourite past-times is laughing at myself and those that make fun of my favourite things. I really enjoy movies. Not as much as some other people in the class, I have come to learn, but I love it all. Animated films, foreign films, horror flicks, gore/slasher thrillers, B-Rated bombs. All of it! And best of all, I love to poke fun.

Introducing CinemaSins!

If you've been living under a rock, you may not have heard of this channel on YouTube.

The premise of this channel is simple: two men sit around pointing out weirdness, inconsistencies, serious plot holes, and more in movies, on top of their mocking commentary. It's all in the name of fun, but they do a great job of heckling our beloved Hollywood movies.

While I wouldn't consider this remix in the common sense of taking an idea and transforming it into something your own, I'm really interested in how they use their videos to jest and jive at the movie industry - a giant in the copyright field. (And I consistently wonder how they get away with using so much footage.)

Check out their CinemaSins tally of "Inside Out", the latest movie from Disney/Pixar. Be sure to scroll through their channel and see if they have 'sinned' your favourite movie!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Kelly's Apollo

Creator: Joseph Bennett
Uploded: 2006
Link: https://vimeo.com/15929510

Note: Shortly after this blog was written, the video was removed from YouTube. Please click on the link above, or copy and paste it into the URL bar to watch the video. 

Last term in Analytical and Historical Bibliography, another student introduced us to this fantastic video. It's a remix of footage from the Apollo Launch mixed in with "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. It doesn't sound like it should work, but it totally does. Bennett starts the video out with Clarkson's song at regular tempo, but increasingly slows it down as the clip progresses. By the time you get to the end, you almost can't tell which song is playing. The music lines up beautifully with the images and it will blow your mind.

It's one of my favourite remixes.

I've watched it more than a dozen times since last term, and it always gives me shivers.

Check it out!