Theory Presentation

Presentation:
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AYVJKyBf0rrDZGZuM2g4ODRfMGZkODRmcG1q&hl=en

Wordle

Research Draft Proposal

For my research project, I want to explore how the Internet has revolutionized musical collaboration. There are several websites that allow users to create complete musical compositions without ever meeting in person. For example, one person can upload a guitar riff. Another person can organize lyrics and song structure around that riff. Someone else can compose a bassline or string orchestration, and someone else can add a drum track. What started as a three-second guitar riff can result in a legitimate, collaborative piece of music. Using digital communication to piece together music isn't just theoretical technology or a novelty, it's already widely used by both major-label artists as well as avid GarageBand musicians.

The technology is in place, and there is no shortage of musical talent among contributors. However, what role does authorship play? How is credit given for music created in this fashion, and is there away for the contributors to profit from it? Finally, what advantages and disadvantages does the online format bring to the collaborative process, as opposed to musicians meeting in person?

Bibliography:

http://musicollaborate.com/

http://www.kompoz.com/compose-collaborate/home.music

http://www.zoetrope.com/index.cgi

http://www.pandora.com

On Plagiarism

I enjoyed both articles regarding plagiarism, and I think they both comment well on one of the drawbacks of our technological age. While the internet has made it remarkably easy to publish anything and make it available to the world, it has also made the process of finding a truly unique voice very difficult. Anyone choosing a band name first has to check Myspace, and chances are their first choice will be taken (forcing a noticeable increase in ludicrous band names). Likewise, any author of a screenplay can probably find an almost-identical one somewhere on the Web. The trend will only grow, forcing creative talents as well as regular students to become more and more fearful of accidental plagiarism.

The good side of the situation is that he truly creative voices will find ways to express original ideas just as before, though it may be more difficult to do. I can certainly understand the feeling of futility that mounts as more and more people post similar work on the internet, and seemingly fewer and fewer original ideas come to the forefront. However, just like in any other category, the competition will result in people finding new ways to advance their art and the medium.