Lawrence Lessig's book "Free Culture" was a considerable divergence from my normal reading habits. I came into the book with next to no knowledge about copyright or the war on free culture. By the time I left, I'd like to think I know a little bit more.
The idea behind "Free Culture" didn’t hold me at first. I believed, erroneously, that the only thing at stake was the online world of piracy. To be honest, I didn’t particularly care if people were no longer able to steal music, movies, books, etc. online. I would have said, “okay, make it impossible and put it back to the way things were. I don’t care.” Lessig woke me from the happy misconception that only the bad guys were at their end and showed me a world teetering on the illogical and bizarre.
I think Lessig presented a powerful case. His examples are numerous and frequently infuriating. In case after case people are crushed by insensitive corporations for the sole purpose of profit. What makes the danger more severe is the threat to the creative future and potential hindrances to advancing our society, both through our culture and technology. I’m not all that naïve about government, but I was nonetheless shocked to hear how the law had been manipulated by the few.
As was suggested in class, I think this is a powerful read because of the passion Lessig brings to the narrative. He is clearly wounded from the Eldred decision, and this as his chance to make things right is not wasted.
For my part I will be sure to listen more closely when news of the legal status of creativity comes up. As a person maybe that’s all you can really do—be aware, I mean, so that when the cue comes up in conversation you can share the truth as best any of us can know it (unless you’re on a date, in which case I would think your company most likely to be disinterested in the nuances of publishing and ownership). In any case I’m grateful for having had the chance to read the book.
PS
My first reaction was to boycott Disney and the other groups operating like gangsters. The problem is that doesn’t really work, because I couldn’t care less about them right now. However once one has children, I imagine it is the “bad” parent who prohibits them from partaking in the 5-year-olds only real culture. Is there any alternative to this, sort of writing and illustrating one’s own line of bedtime stories?
2 comments:
My father was capable of both making up and narrating his own stories as he went along. He once told me that there is plenty of material in normal storybooks that can be adapted for children's bedtime stories. Thanks to his efforts, I was fairly well-entertained as a child, and not from Disney books.
Boycotting disney huh..I don't know, Disney brings alot of joy to alot of children, that is why I don't really like to get involved in the politics of life (poor attitude I know) I guess I really need to work on realizing that not everything in society is as sugar coated as I want to believe
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