Remixing, as I have come to understand from class discussions, is not just derived from music as a medium, but multiple mediums. It is how we can take an original copy of any sort of medium and turn it into our own critique of the matter. A new product is thus created. For instance, Lessig’s Remix mentions a college friend who excelled in writing. He did so by incorporating quotes into his works. So, he took original pieces, or in this case phrases, and turned it into his own original work.
Musically, I enjoy it when an artist from one genre remixes the work of an artist from a totally different genre. As of this week, our discussions about Beyoncé as a cyborg by the definition of Donna Haraway have lead us into how her newest track has been remixed by many. To my surprise, James Blake, a musician who is from the electronic genre, took Beyoncé’s track and remixed it to produce a totally different sound, but it of course incorporates the original work. James Blake incorporates “ghosts” into his track based on Beyoncé’s voice or “Ooo”ing. It’s a very interesting piece which is basically inspired by Beyoncé’s track rather than being a cover, which I feel anyone can do. What James Blake comes up with is his own take on “Drunk in Love” which takes out the lyrics and focuses on the energy or the sexy feel of the song.
Aside from music, art of many forms can be remixed. Remixing is not the same as remediation. Although I believe it is understandable how the two can easily be confused. Both are “re-do”s. Remediation redoes media. One form of media is transformed into a new type of media. Poems or songs can be revived into a painting or vice versa. As noted in Bolter’s and Grusin’s book, Remediation: Understanding New Media, the clearest examples of digital hypermedia comes from music production and presentation. Music was originally about the live performance and sounding “live”, but as time went on, it was more about the recording. So, James Blake’s music would not have come into existence if there wasn’t a period in music history where the aim was to make the sound electronic or find various forms to play with the medium of sound and music. So, for this example of remediation, music has gone from on stage to off. There are even music documentaries made. The one I am most excited about that comes out this coming week on On Demand and iTunes is my favorite band, The National. The documentary is called, “Mistaken for Strangers”. It’s about how two brothers, one a rock star and the other a roadie, are on tour together, but out in the “real world” no one would know they are related. It showcases the brother of the rock star and his feelings on being in the shadow. I cannot wait. Thus, music is transformed from on stage to recording to a video documentary that can be found not only in exclusive theatres (Los Angeles, California), but through access of Cablevision and iTunes, TV or computer.
Remixing, on the other hand, is not transforming into a whole new media, but rather editing an existing medium to be completely on its own (the same type of medium). It is meant to change or improve the original. The most alternative example I have come across is graffiti. Artists interact and become inspired by their surrounding environment. Graffiti allows the public to have certain images on a building. Artists manipulate the surface or wall to display their own critique. Banksy uses graffiti to bring social and political messages, oftentimes with dark humor. Taking an environment and twisting it to make one’s own message would be remixing. Banksy’s documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop would be an example of remediation, turning art to a video source of media.
I want to know more about the image at the top. Did you make that?
No. That’s the work of Banksy. He’s an awesome graffiti artist. Check him out if you get a chance. There’s a documentary on him as well. I haven’t seen it, but I’m intrigued by his work. He was mentioned on the Colbert Report a few months ago.
I am familiar with Banksy. Yes, he’s very interesting! Have you tried to do any remixes of your own? What do you think of the image that you posted here?
When trying to find an image on Banksy- I wanted to display his social/political outlook and his dark humor whilst using the environment surrounding his work. At first, I was going to post the image of a maid sweeping into the brick wall, but it wasn’t the social/political aspect I wanted in the image.
When I stumbled upon the image of the young Asian boy with the gun pointing it to the “No Parking” sign, I was reminded of episodes of “Vice” on HBO when they talk about young boys in the military with guns. The boys don’t grasp the severity of their situation with using guns. That’s why they are perfect to go to combat- they don’t grasp the death element. So, there’s no fear within them.
I love dark humor and I feel like Banksy is trying to say in a very humorous way “Don’t you dare park here, under penalty of death!”
So that’s why I chose the image. I felt it was most fitting. It took into mind the surroundings of the wall and the sign to make a whole new message and meaning.
Have I ever remixed anything? After reading a book by Terry Goodkind who wrote “Wizard’s First Rule”, I wrote my own short story based on the imagery and the way Goodkind portrays women as powerful. I should get back into the swing of writing for the fun of it again.
It’s a great image. I like your analysis of it. It sounds like the young boys think they are playing a game when they go to war in real life? I love the different levels of abstraction for the grass and flowers versus the boy–with the sign, of course, not being a representation at all but a real sign in the world. It seems to tell a story about detachment from the natural world, embracing a world of signs where they have more importance than grass or flowers.
Fan fiction is definitely remix. Fan fiction forums are one of the best ways for emerging writers to get mentoring and feedback, if fandom is their thing at all. Check out this project by Jenna Hallock: https://stonybrook.digication.com/jenna_m_hallock/Final_Project.
Absolutely! I feel like the whole image is a detachment from reality with the young boy perhaps not understanding war as violence and death, but- you pinned it- as a game.
I really enjoyed examining all the different forms of remixes this week. Thank you for the final project by Jenna. I wish I thought of it!