the REMIX project

In Toronto, ON, there is a place where high-school aged kids from disadvantaged and underprivileged communities can go to learn about remix culture and have the opportunity to access a 5,000 sq. ft. facility, with a full recording studio, photography studio, business development centre, creative arts lab, video editing suite & more. This place is called REMIX and enables these aspiring kids to learn more about the technologies surrounding the development of remix culture and to become more connected with the world at large.

One of the programs the center offers is called a Remix Project. The workshops involved in this program educate the kids on issues of copyright law, starting a small business, managing credit, and financial planning etc. By exposing these disadvantaged youth to the culture of remix, the participatory aspect of what remix is is strengthened. The high-tech, expensive aspect side of remix (having access to a computer, digital recording equipment, etc.) is no longer an obstacle and the voices of the disadvantaged can be heard.

Through the business and creative arts programs REMIX continues to create opportunities for youth to develop a path to success and accomplish their goals. REMIX has people that they look up to and use as examples for the youth that attend their programs. These people are called Remix Ambassadors and one of the more recent Ambassadors to the program is K'naan. Known for his song "Waving Flag," used as the Official Song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, K'naan has inspired many people in his fight for social justice and the leveling of the global playing field.

Once tragedy struck Haiti in 2010, K'naan came together with Young Artists for Haiti and using his song "Waving Flag," made an unforgettable musical collaboration which was used to educate people and to create awareness. With K'naan's version of "Waving Flag," used at the FIFA World Cup and the version of "Waving Flag" performed by the Young Artists for Haiti, it is evident that the same piece of music can be used for different purposes.

The transformative and participatory aspects of remix are present in what K'naan has been able to do with his music and what the Toronto-based REMIX center is doing with inner-city youth. Although it may seem that the sectors involved in remix culture such as music, video and graphic design are corporate-driven and not easily penetrable at times, sources are available in order to get new stories into circulation. REMIX and K'naan are helping to continue the development of convergence culture, where every story and image is circulated on multiple platforms. No longer do corporations have all the power as voices are being exposed from grassroots locations such as the streets of Toronto and other areas of Canada, not to mention the rest of the world.

Even The Biebs Remixes

I think its a sign of the times/demand for variations on music and culture that we have already consumed that Justin Bieber can release "Never Say Never, The Remixes" and likely still make a profit. I was walking through the mall today when the poster caught my attention. My first thoughts were how many albums can he release with the same freaking songs? Then, I realized that he, or whoever is managing him, is actually a genius. This is what he has to say about who is present on the album:



So, the concept is easy. Take songs that were already loved and adored by his screaming fans (from his movie of the same name) and then "remix" them by "singing" with other famous artists. However, from what I can gather, these remixes aren't "true remixes" because the songs are actually pretty much the same with the exception of the vocal overlays of the additional artist. As well, I feel that it is almost taking the fun away from fans when the "official" remix is released rather than something that fans created and did, but this seems to be the growing trend. A signal of the subculture being circumvented by capitalism? Or is it just the Biebs looking to make another dollar?

And yes, the album did indeed debut at number one the week it was released. Somehow.

Collaborate and remix!

This may be just a shameless plug, but I think it also has relevance for our course. In another cultural studies class a group of mine (including a couple of our KS400 classmates) are working on an event at the KW Art Gallery.

The event is a pre-screening of a film by Althea Thauberger called Not Afraid to Die. Althea creates her films in collaboration with members of various communities including students, members of the military and song writers/singers. Her goal in collaboration is to give these people a voice where they may not have had one before.

In the film we are pre-screening, Althea works with a student of hers, filming at the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. Althea sings the soundtrack to the film herself. The song can be considered a kind of mash-up of two different songs, one of which is a miners folk song, the other is a song the artist had stuck in her head while making the film.

The artist does not prescribe meanings to her work. Her method is more to release the work to the public, and allow the audience to take from it the meaning that they choose. This is what our event is about. Our goal at the event is to gather responses from the audience on what their thoughts and interpretations are on the piece. We will gather written, video, and audio responses, which will be displayed with the work when it is exhibited at the gallery at the end of March.

If you are interested in the event, here is some more information
http://free-admission.com/2011/03/04/feedback-loop/

The Event is taking place this Thursday March 10th from 7-9 pm at the KW Art Gallery (Located in The Center in the Square)

Duck Sauce and Remix

http://gobarbra.com/ is a website where you can (with a three syllable statement) make your own version of the popular Duck Sauce 'Barbra Striesand' Song.

I made one here, check it out.

http://gobarbra.com/hit/new-b426815ff284ec2f3782963b025d65a5

Sites like this let you make your own remix with minimal effort: opening up the accessibility of remix to anyone. Also making mornings sound so much cooler.

"Alice" Continued: Disney and Pogo

When Maddalen wrote a blog entry a few weeks ago about how remix should be considered its own cultural entity and used the example of a remix of Alice in Wonderland called "Alice" to illustrate her point, I knew it was important that I follow up with a discussion about the struggles with copyright and Disney that the DJ who created the remix had encountered. Pogo, the VJ and producer who created the Alice remix, only recently re-emerged back on the remix scene, after being slapped with a gag order by Disney when he first released "Alice" in 2007. Disney put a gag order on all of his mixes and forced him to take them down, including his remix of Alice, which had gained over five million views on YouTube. At the same time, they also offered him a one year contract to produce music for Walt Disney Motion Picture Studios. His contract and the gag order were only just released this past November, which meant that Pogo was free to again upload his remixes, although he still faces the possibility of being sued for infringement by Disney. After the gag order was released, Pogo had the following to say about his experience with Disney and copyright:

"After a year producing professionally for Walt Disney Motion Picture Studios, my contract has finally come to an end. The gag order is released, and my classic Disney mixes are allowed back online.

I’d like to apologize to everyone for the secrecy that has so far been surrounding this issue. When one of the biggest, most powerful corporations in the world zipped my mouth shut with the hand of the law, there’s little I could do to communicate without deliberately breaching my contract. Alice, Expialidocious and White Magic had to be hidden because Disney considered them illegal. They otherwise would have engaged me as an ongoing infringer, an act that would understandably exceed the legal boundaries of any corporation. Folks, I long to release my Pirates Of The Caribbean mix on YouTube. I think it’s one of my best mixes yet, and it’s agonizing to imagine it rotting away in some filing cabinet instead of taking its rightful place in my body of work. All I’ve been told is that the producers at Jerry Bruckheimer Films want nothing to do with it. Whether that means they’re displeased or they’re just waiting for the right time is impossible for me to say. The sad reality is, Swashbuckle was contracted work. I’d literally have to start saving the money that Disney would sue me before making the decision to upload it. But who knows? It might just come to that. My music is my mark in this world."

And as if to prove his point, only four days after the gag order was up, he released "Wishery", which is a remix of the 1937 Disney classic Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Pogo has also released other remixes like "UPular" and "Expialidocious" since the gag order was released and continues to use Disney films to create new remixes. For a full list of all of his remixes to date, check out his website, where you can also name your price for any of the remixes he's create so far.

Style & Gender Remixed

I want to bring attention to the fact that we remix everyday. For example we remix our style, gender construction before we even start our day. We remix our style and gender construct every morning while we are getting dressed, some days I wear patterns, textures, and I even clash colours. I do this depending on the mood and type of day I have. I like to use different patterns on top of different textures and this is what I call a ‘fabric remix’. The clothes are all made in different places, ‘made in China’, ‘made in India’, ‘made in the U.S.A’, ‘made in Italy’, etc. I am remixing culture and textures from different places, and when I weather leather and fur I am remixing animals (sorry for any vegetarians/vegans reading this blog, all my furs are vintage if that helps). My point is that I am able to own pieces from all different locales and cultures and remix them together into one outfit for the purpose of self-expression. I also wear vintage pieces, usually stolen from my grandma and remix them with high designer brands.

We remix gender by the way we act, the way we present ourselves, and the way we dress. I tend to do many things that people point out are “un-lady like” such as burping out loud, stuffing my face, swearing etc. I also often wear boys clothing, baggy t-shirts, baggy jeans, mens sunglasses, my boyfriend’s hats, sweaters etc. At the same time I am “dressing as a boy” I still wear makeup, dye my hair, paint my nails and so on. I actually usually prefer unisex clothes, and styles and I prefer cologne over perfume. I call this a 'gender remix' obviously different from drag, but then again according to feminist theorist Judith Halbertstam everyone performs drag because everyone performs and acts according to a certain gender construct, whether accepted by society or not (212).

Even though Ive always worn boy clothes ever since my heavy metal/hardcore days back in highschool (when it was very un-popular and I got made fun of every day) it is now found in all angles of the fashion industry. Gender reversed and unisex clothing is in. High fashion today is very much unisex based or I like to call it "gender remixed." Lots of female models are chosen because they look boy-ish, and lots of transvestite male models are chosen for their unique bone structures and their boxy body shape. Men are wearing skirts, and women are wearing drop crotch pants. Big boobs are out, and flat chested is in. The reverse role is highly popular now, and if you haven't noticed already I am sure you will start to notice now.

We either act according to our specific gender, or we don’t, luckily today falling between gender cracks and remixing all genders together in an outfit has become more accepted in society. This step in fashion is also a great leap for feminist theorists who are continually trying to break down the gender barriers. Excited to see whats going to come in the future!

Here is an example of a model who looks quite boyish, but can also remain feminine at the same time

Aggy Deyn:

Link for the rest of her photoshoot by the famous Hedi Slimane HERE

Source:

Halberstam, Judith. “F2M: The Making of Female Masculinity.” The Lesbian Postmodern. Ed. Laura Doan. New York: Columbia UP, 1994. 210-228. 0-231- 08411-0. 267p.

Owning success

We talk a lot about ownership in KS 400, and most of the time I find we focus a lot on the negative side of things. We read stories of law suits, infringements and the like, yet very rarely do we look at the positive side of the ownership issue. I started thinking this when I found an artcle in the paper on the TTC subway. A ten year girl re-made the hit Born this Way by Lady GaGa and instead of being penalized for this, she has been launched into fame and success. A lot of people in the talent industry are now keeping an eye on her because of her fabulous voice. Even Lady GaGa was impressed. Last night, she had the opportunity to sing with Lady GaGa on stage at her Tornonto concert. Stories like this are fairly rare, but they do occurr--I think that sometimes scholars forget that remixing a song, and claiming it to be your own is not necessarily a bad thing.

here is Lady GaGa's rendition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4a8QtvOkBQ

and the remixed version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0wi1m-89o