Here is the remix I created during class today. I don't remember exactly where the images came from but with the exception of the Tetragrammaton, they are all from students of 201. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I think it is kind of funny.

A discussion on Nothing

I realize that a week ago I may have missed a post as a result of the Friday morning off. I do not remember what the topic of discussion was at the time so I will just ramble about the class in general.
What is to follow will be quite interesting to some and not worth reading to others (most).
I wanted to start by saying that on a campus of some forty thousand undergrads who utilize a hundred some odd buildings, we could not ask for a better classroom. Granted, the seating is usually quite cramped and the chairs are straight out of a 70's sitcom. Still, one cannot overlook the magnificent view we have of both Lake Mendota and the capitol during those early morning sessions. Helen C. is, indeed, quite a lovely lady.
I realize that few people other than Scot himself will have read this post to this point. I will, therefore, talk about him to him and anyone else who may be here. I don't know who has taken the time to read some of his blog posts but I thought a few of them are quite entertaining. One, for example, was from this summer when he explained that he had no idea where he was going to go with his upcoming class on authorship and copyright material. Scot also has a tendency to quote Roland Barthe with regularity. It is for that reason that I love to bring the man up during class discussion. Any subject that can get tied back to the work of Barthe will likely lead Scot on some ten minute rant. Sometimes it is just fun how much of a stretch I can take to get Barthe back into the discussion.
Peace

Sampling the life of the Sampler

Would you rather go to a large supermarket that offers free samples of its products or one that does not? Nearly everyone remembers an experience from their childhood of sampling at the grocery store--at least I do. Much like the supermarket, this project was much more enjoyable when the opportunity to sample was available. The sampled project also fully expressed the view I sought.
Creating a similar project from unsampled material was very difficult. I realized this when I was precariously balancing my MacBook (and its accompanying camera) on my knee while trying to pose with the props for the photo. Despite the internet's infinite size, nothing out there was both free to take and possessing the necessary properties to capture the meaning I wished to convey.
I really think that the current copyright laws need to be weakened. Getting my true meanings conveyed was much easier when using "copyrighted material"--despite the fact that I felt like I was not infringing on anyone's rights. I believe creative expression will gradually come to a halt if copyright laws continue to build walls between the creator and existing ideas.