Initially, this article was really confusing because I didn’t really understand the language, but I ended up realizing this article had some interesting arguments about art appropriation, plagiarism, and living in the postmodern world. In high school, I was always told that plagiarism was was one of the easiest crimes you could commit, so I was always hyper aware of it and generally gave it a negative connotation; however, after reading this article, I realized that “plagiarism” and re-appropriation is everywhere especially in the art world.
I think that art appropriation is a product of living in the postmodern world. The quote about Lincoln waiting anxiously for telegraphs during the Civil War really resonated with me because it showed that even 150 years ago, there was a need for new technology and cultural velocity. In essence, a break from the past. Today technology is changing at a rapid pace, and art is becoming more inclusive of different mediums thanks to technology, so I think that art appropriation and intertextuality is necessary.
I might be biased though because this Jim Jarmusch quote has always appealed to me: “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to."
