That’s been in my head all weekend, good luck shaking it. This above is just one of the many examples of mashups we hope to explore throughout the coming weeks.
The mashup world has taken the internet by storm. Internet theorists like Lawrence Lessig and Yochai Benkler regularly site mashups as a new form of expression. From politics to entertainment, mashup culture embraces the relationship between the infinite repository of the internet and media editing software to recombine existing content in the creation of new meaning.
In this travelogue Gabriel and I will explore the ways that the mashup medium has been used in entertainment, education, and politics. One example of mashups in the realm of politics that we all know about is Mushon’s dislocative tourism project, where the stories of individuals are mashed up with interactive maps.
Lawrence Lessig in his book Remix has gone so far as to say that the mashups are like a new form of writing with audio and visual content. In line with this idea, we will produce a videocast that show current examples from the mashup realm that we believe to be strong examples of cultural and political expression.
Possibly Relevant Posts:
- The Meta Mashup (4) | Gabriel Mugar
- I Don’t Care Who You Are (6) | gorditamedia
- Mashups Week Two- Maps and More (8) | Franklin
12 Comments
Awesome subject, mashups are getting more and more creative and popular, i mean when you look at the popularity of a DJ/Artist like Girl Talk, who creates no original content at all but just mashes up tons of songs from our popular culture it gets fascinating. He is seen as an artist and even sells his work…
this is quite the amusing mashup that I stumbled upon on youtube…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feLqz1udhtY
Mashup culture is NEAT. But in terms of art and music at least, I think there is a lot of resistance from traditional artists or cultural producers, who don’t consider mashup a legitimate art form.
I went to a lecture last night during which a bunch of old jazz musicians were lamenting the loss of creativity in younger musicians today, saying that people aren’t coming up with new kinds of music, just borrowing from older generations. (PRETTY IRONIC, GUYS.) They faulted new technology for the decline in what they saw as “real music.” What do you think of that?
I hear that argument, but I think there is a lot to be said for someone who can pull of the video that we used in this post. There is a skill in that, an element of creativity. All forms of music are a derivative of other forms (rock and roll is the blues sped up, jazz music is (as adorno would say) classical music with no real structure. Technology is a new instrument except now its easier to see the derivatives whereas before it may have been more difficult.
I think mashups do require talent – at least the good ones. there are enough examples of really lame mashups that make no sense and are a waste of time. looking at two things and figuring out a way they can connect and live together meaningfully (or not, as the case may be) definitely takes some brains. of course I prefer mashups that are meaningful rather than the inane ones. and very often, mashups seem to reflect some sort of pop culture reference that not everyone gets. still, I like this topic.
re: the jazz stuff: aren’t they all mashups in a sense? you take a standard, add your own or other stuff and voila! you have yourself a piece of music!
I’d like to think of mashups as some sort of homage to the original pieces. of course, that can’t be said of all mashups…
@ Sava–your jazz comment is likely what Melissa was referring to when she said th jazz guys were being ironic. I’m still laughing about it.
@Gabe I agree with all of that!
What a fun topic, guys. I’m in the camp that finds it to be an exciting new art form. I’m curious why you will choose to do a video cast, as opposed to your own mashup? I like your plan-just curious.
@gorditamedia @Melissa: yes I see that now… haha thanks! =)
great topic. I definitely think this is an evolved art form. The most effective mash-ups seem to combine fine aural and visual skills, technological capability, editing judgment/prowess, cultural understanding (to find an angle that resonates with an audience) – that’s not so easy to achieve.
And if we define Art in part by its ability to invoke some sort of response in an audience, the fact that people forward the mash-ups they consider good on, or otherwise clue others in, is not insignificant.
Yay mashup culture! You guys should take it further and make one, perhaps towards the end of the three weeks.
@H-Man: GirlTalk SUCKS.
@franklin: I think this is an excellent topic as well. I wonder if you are going to be focusing primarily on the multi-media aspect of Mashup Culture or if you’ll also be taking a look at how the idea of the mashup has changed the way we handle the visualization of data, as a culture?
@Harlo: I agree
@haters- why all the girl talk hate?? hehe
I think it maybe an interesting to look at the commercialization of mashups. Like “Numb/Encore” by Jay-Z and Linkin Park. I think it won a Grammy as well. So I guess that is a mash up that has received appreciation from the elite of the music world.