Copyright Culture (Remixed) Vol. 1 Other People's Art (5:00)

Volume 1 of Copyright Culture (Remixed) is the first in a series of shorts that examine copyright law, fair use, art and freedom of expression.

Shot in New York City in December of 2005, this short introduces us to two artists – Joy Garnett, a NYC painter inspired by documentary, photojournalism and mass media images and Eric Doeringer - whose paintings derive from other people's art and creative work.

We learn about the struggles of fair use and free speech that artists must confront through the story of Garnett's "Molotov" painting. Her attorney John Koegel indicates the urgency of fair use for the exchange of ideas in society, "…the importance of expressing contrary views, the importance of doing new things is something that is critical not just here, but everywhere…to mankind, that's how we move forward. By exploring, and that's what artists do, they explore and you can't cut that off."

Producer Rebekah Farrugia
Producer/Camera Jennifer A Machiorlatti
Editor Craig Dietrich and Rebekah Farrugia
Production Assistant Natalia Grace Berrios

Vol.2 Outsider/Outside Her (5:00)

Copyright, Culture (Remixed) Vol. 2 Outsider/Outside Her is a fair use experiment, utilizing original footage, audio narrative and found media. The 5-min short juxtaposes three different media channels—segments of archival and contemporary television footage, original footage and audio commentary in the form of correspondence letters.

Based on one American woman’s experiences abroad (as an outsider), the audio narration is juxtaposed with fragments of found footage captured from television to illustrate the narrow range of issues explored in U.S. popular culture and media. The narrator attempts to situate herself, and contextualize her new experiences, in light of her middle class, middle America identity. Her perceptions of life abroad as woman born and raised in the shadows of U.S. television history starkly shift during the piece—from curious traveler to self-conscious critic.

Producer/Editor Rebekah Farrugia
Producer/Writer Jennifer A. Machiorlatti
Associate Editor Craig Dietrich

Vol. 3 Illegal Art (10:00)

Copyright, Culture (Remixed) Vol. 3 Illegal Art features the traveling art exhibit Illegal Art: Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age during an exhibition at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, Hollywood, FL. Curated by Carrie McLaren the multi-media show illustrates the gray areas of U.S. copyright law and “fair use” which is essential to artists’ abilities to both critique and create culture.

According to the show’s curator Carrie McLaren, Illegal Art: Freedom of expression in the corporate age, was intended to be a one time event in New York City. However, news of the show quickly spread which led to the exhibit touring nationally. Works in the exhibit include film, video, audio, and visual art pieces such as altered photos of corporate signs, Pez Candy dispensers for fallen rappers, remixed CNN footage of George W. Bush and the Teletubbies, and Barbie Dolls in blenders.

In addition to Carrie McLaren’s commentary on the show, artist Heidi Cody—whose piece American Alphabet is featured in the show—shares her perspective on the importance of protecting artists’ abilities to critique consumer culture.

The short also includes remixed interview footage from Copyright, Culture (Remixed) Volume 1 with NYC visual artist Joy Garnett, Brooklyn based visual artist Eric Doeringer and NYC art lawyer John Koegel. For more information on the Illegal Art exhibit visit www.illegal-art.org

Producer/Editor/Camera Rebekah Farrugia
Producer/Camera Jennifer A. Machiorlatti