Before seeing the movie “RIP: A Remix Manifesto,” I pretty much had no understanding or sympathy for people who make remixes, especially of songs. I felt like it was a lack of creativity and that it was almost lazy. I actually wrote about in my last discussion question how I don’t agree with remixing. I didn’t see the inspiration in remixing, but rather I felt that people who remixed were just not inspired enough to write their own music, so they took music from other artists. Also, I felt that remixing music wasn’t as talented as making your own.
I still feel that, while remixing is a challenge in the way that you have to have a knack to know what music sounds good together, It’s still more talented to create your own music. There is something so special and inspirational about music from real instruments. Now it is hard to find music that doesn’t have a lot of techno sounds, either techno voices or techno instruments. You have to learn how to play music from when you are little and practice throughout your life. Then you have to transfer your emotions into words and put all your talents together. I always saw the passion and inspiration in nonremixed music, however, I failed to recognize them in remixed music.
The movie “RIP: A Remix Manifesto” gave me a much better appreciation and understanding for people who remix music. I still prefer music that is not remixed better, however remixed music can be fun for dancing or just having a good time. The movie opened my eyes to the talent and passion that is put into and comes out of remixed music. I really enjoyed the way that Girltalk spoke about his reasoning for sharing music. Sharing music is like sharing knowledge. It’s better to spread it around and have it available for everyone’s use so that everyone can be exposed to it, learn from it, and enjoy it. This is a side to remixed music that I never saw. It allows artists to combine the meanings of many different songs and create a a new song that reflects the passion and talent of the new artist.
Even though this movie has allowed me look at remixed music from a different angle and learn to accept this new form of music, I still don’t like the way that remixed songs of older, classic songs sound. I don’t mind remixes of newer songs, but remixes of songs like Build Me Up Buttercup just aren’t meant to happen. I still see the reasons why artists remix these classic songs and the art in it, I just don’t like the way it sounds.
Anyway, I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants to learn more about remixed culture. It might not change your opinion on the way remixed music sounds, but hopefully it will at least open your eyes to understanding more about the reasons for remixing music and the purposes that it has.
I would agree with you. I think that the people that are creating this music don't get as much credit as they should. Like Girltalk, I have never seen the process in which remixed music is created and it really does take talent to place certain songs with one another. But I also agree with you that like Build Me Up Buttercup by the Temptations should not be remixed, because the originals of most songs are the best version. Nothing needs to be manipulated or changed. I would recommend this movie to more than people who want to know more about the remix culture, but it's a great way to understand the technological world we live in currently and how it will change in the future. Anyways, I enjoyed reading your opinion on the movie.
ReplyDeleteBefore learning more about remix culture, I didn't really understand the way it worked or what its value was as well. But now that we've had the chance, as a class, to learn about this form of music in depth, I think I have mixed feelings towards this form of art. On the one hand, I like ordinary music performed by original artists playing real instruments. But on the other hand, I think that remix culture allows for a greater diversity in music genres and productions. If I could place remix culture within an analogy, I would compare real music to a rose and remix music to a plain daisy. Even though the rose is much prettier and more valuable than a plain daisy, you wouldn't want to see only roses. You would want to walk outside and see lots of different flowers. So for me, at least, even though I value real music a lot more, I still appreciate the diversity that remix music allows.
ReplyDeleteI had no respect for artists like girl talk, then i saw the film and tried to make a remix myself, really frickin hard!!! I never realized all the time effort and dedication put into each song. i would agree that the originals are the best versions, but i also think that mixing that original, with many others can in some way be an original as well. if you think about it, there are only so many chords/notes on the instruments that our 'originals' can be made from; with this limited number of notes, mixing has found a way to expand music exponentially.
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