"I have never had an original thought"

We've heard it before. Or perhaps its adjacent "I've never had an original experience." Both are almost always true. Why? Because we are humans. There is no need to despair in the name of bruised individuality, our shared experience gives us connection and tools to understand each other.

So let's get into it, the plague that is "intellectual property" prevents this connection and stunts collective growth. Yes, most things that are made nowadays are "remixes" of things from the past, but that is because there are only so many combinations of ideas, character tropes, or chords that we can use. As Kirby Ferguson put it, "We are all building with the same materials." We are bound to stumble onto somebody else's idea, and I do not think that is grounds for repercussions. These jumping off spots that we are given by the public domain help us evolve and avoid having start from scratch(as if we ever could, it is nearly impossible to separate so called original ideas from inspired ones.)

The first time I had to come to terms with the fact that I would probably never create something that was purely mine was when I was learning to play guitar. I learned one song, "Let It Be" by the Beatles and my instructor remarked, "now you can play hundreds of songs." “Love Story” by Taylor Swift,“Hey Soul Sister” by Train, "Comethru" by Jeremy Zucker, all have the signature C-G-Am-F chord progression that is shared with so many other songs. It was shocking to learn that these famous artists could get away with copying. *gasp* So naturally, I decided I wanted to make up my own, never-heard-before sound and realized that with every attempt I had accidentally played the chords to some other song or a set of chords that frankly sounded bad. It is impossible to escape every bit of another person's influence, even if by coincidence.

I really enjoyed Furguson's perspective, it was very persuasive. Before, it was my knee-jerk reaction to say NO everything is NOT a remix, creativity is alive and well. I have now come to the conclusion that everything being a remix does not equate to the modern death of originality and creativity. In all new works, while there may be a chunk of it that is a "ripoff" of old work, there is still a new fresh idea within each, even if that sliver of originality is the thread that combines old works into something new.

So go forth copying, try on other's styles, morals, hobbies, it could be fun! If everything is a remix then we can give up trying to avoid copying and get inspired already. We get free range on every idea ever thought. The world is our oyster!

Bye tty soon,

Jordan