In the following blog I will be discussing the similarities between the previous blogs: Originality is a Waste by architecture historians Petra Brower and Matteo Kuijpers, "Everything is a Remix" video and Anne Lacaton's conference "Freedom of Use". Originality is a Waste argues that the Copy Paste culture should be brought back as the legitimate method that it used to be. Past cultures were free to copy other's works in order to establish a foundation for their own work. However, contemporary Western culture has almost entirely banned the act of copying; it is considered dishonest and unoriginal. However, Petra Brower and Matteo Kuijpers argue that wanting to create something original is first, a waste and second, impossible. Everything has somehow been infuenced by previous works; nothing is truly original.
Furthermore, the video "Everything is a Remix" continues this same line of thought. Its author argues that everything truly is remixed, since the creation of something "new" is the product of a combination of past elements. For example, a movie can be the result of previous films, books, songs, theater plays, etc. Moreover, it mentions examples such as the Star Wars films, which have copied scene ideas from other movies, and has created sequels based on their own previous movies. Hence, everything really is a remix.
Moreover, Anne Lacaton in her conference "Freedom of Use" discusses the importance of transforming and renovating buildings, instead of demolishing them and starting from zero. Lacaton's vision of transformation in architecture is the physical representation of "Originality is a Waste" and "Everything is a Remix". By renovating a building, Lacaton is choosing to work on a building's previous foundation and to alter it. By doing this, she demonstrates the many possibilities that result from this and also, that it is a more effective and economic method.
In conclusion, the main argument is that nothing is truly original. The present is always somehow influenced by the past. Hence, thinking that a creation is original is erroneous. Also, it is ineffective to ignore the past. The past can provide knowledge for the future, it can solve present adversities and it can serve as an incredible source of inspiration for future works.
Referencias:
PDF - Originality is a Waste - Petra Brower and Matteo Kuijpers
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