What are remixes?
This site’s use of the term “remix” is borrowed from Lawrence Lessig, a Stanford law professor and the founder of Creative Commons. To remix an art or literary piece is nearly the same as remixing a piece of music. It is literally to take something old, something already-created, and to make something new from it—a derivative work. If you’d like to learn more about what remixing is, and why copyright reform is central to its existence, I recommend watching the video below.
What are some examples of remixes?
- Darth Vader Stencil (art)
- Dirtbag, by Brad Sucks, as remixed by Psycraft (music)
- Evolution of Dance and Evolution of Dance 2 (dance)
- Mickey is a Gas (sculpture)
- Us (video)
While most of us would be familiar with at least some of the old works referenced in the pieces above, few of us would call them copyright infringements and certainly not “stealing.”
What ISN’T a remix?
Remixes are not copyright infringements. They are not exact and full copies of another person’s work. People who remix another’s work often give credit for the parts that are not entirely their own, if the used work is a noticeable and important component of their new creation. See the links above for various example works, where artists have used something previously-created to make a new statement or piece.
What do remixes have to do with LeliaThomas.Com?
As of 2009, I am releasing most all of my past and present works under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license that will enable you to remix my work or enjoy it for personal, noncommercial uses. (Note: In some special remix cases, commercial rights will be granted.) The works found on this website can be downloaded in large/high quality formats from a variety of sources, such as other websites or torrents. Complete terms regarding remixing my work can be found here.
This is my contribution to the art and art appreciation communities, as well as to the ever-shrinking public domain. It is my hope that this small change in how I release and distribute my work will have profound effects for some.
