Not A Real Artist

     Creativity and originality go hand in hand when discussing art, but once someone takes inspiration or reinterprets another's work, the piece is viewed as invalid, uncreative, and unoriginal.  However, artists of every medium use inspiration from outside sources in order to create an effective and moving piece.  As time has gone on, it becomes harder and harder to an artist's work to be validated and seen as a masterpiece because some create their own piece by taking the works of others and making it into something new.  With the modern incorporation of technology into art, it is seen as easier to plagiarize or rip off someone else work, and many claim that creativity and originality are dead.
     New forms of art and technology are always doubted and dismissed at first, especially when used together.  In the TED Talk given by Lawrence Lessig, he provides three examples as to this being true thought society.  Lessig discusses the invention of the "Talking Machine," to which John Phillips Sousa had responded by saying that, "These talking machines are going to ruin artistic development of music in this country."  This shows that even the past, something new and modern was seen as corruptive of art because it takes away its authenticity.  The outlook on "talking machines" has greatly changed over time, and it seems that in todays society music and other art forms are solely distributed and shared through them.  People being scared of new developments and change in ways of life has become a growing trend throughout the history of a growing world.
     Another trend throughout history has been that phenomenal artists hate themselves and their work because it is looked down upon by other people.  Artists such as Vincent Van Gogh were only truly respected and recognized as masters of art years later.  Over time, the standards and interpretations of art change and develop with new discoveries and events.  These new progressions in the world can act as a stream of inspiration for the artist to create in an entirely new style.  In early America, artists and writers were rejected because their art did not follow the traditional European style and standard of art.  Throughout his TED Talk, Lessig was able to vocalize that creativity thrives with freedom but unnecessary laws and standards limit the acceptance of art.
     Technology and art have the ability to grow and work hand in hand, as shown in modern society.  Modern generations can be called remix generations, or animating generations; both of which are modern forms of art created through the medium of technology.  However, some people claim that remixing and remaking other peoples works make these new forms of art created through piracy.  This can be true if the context is not changed enough, but society thrives off of growing and expanding off of the ideas of others, so the same can be said for art and technology combinations.  Originality and creativity comes form interpreting the works of others; taking the work of someone else and combining it with something else or something new makes it one's one, making it original.  Everything in this world is based off of something else, especially in art.  Saying that interpreting or creating something based on someone else's work is piracy is almost the same as saying that artists who paint landscape are not real or original artists because the landscape was created by the earth, not by the artist; the same goes for the art of photography.
     Remixing and remaking works of art through the combination of both art and technology gives a reason for the standard definitions of creativity and originality to be reevaluated.  Thoughts, emotions, and other creations are original, even if one draws on outside sources in order to form them because more research and more outside sources can allow a person to create the something to the strongest capacity.

The Politician Piggy Bank

     It is not a surprise that the United States government has never had the most genuine and trustworthy reputation.  Even before they get into office, politicians begin their manipulation process while in the process of campaigning and raising funds.  They will spend hours a day calling their constitutes to ask for donations and invite them to fundraisers.  However, politicians find this process both torturous and humiliating.  The people who donate are hardly appreciated though, the politicians take their money and move on.  Those who do donate are approached every year for the same purpose, feeding the politician piggy bank.

     In one of his recent episodes, John Oliver addresses the truth of congressional fundraising.  He is able to bring light to a subject that many do not think about and will even try to ignore.  Not only is the fundraising process, with obnoxious phone calls and long fundraisers, stressful and bothersome to the people, but also to the candidates.  Oliver brought up the valid point that, "people in Congress are the ones constantly complaining about the time they waste on fundraising," but they are the ones with the power to change the entire fundraising process.  These Congressmen will complain so much about the fundraising process and speak freely as to how torturous it is, even if the fundraising centers locations are kept under-wraps with no one from outside the campaign going in.  However, one would think that if something was so bothersome to such a large amount of people, some attempt at change would be made.  Congress is meant to help and protect the people, but instead they are taking their money in a way that is not enjoyable for either party.      
     As politicians become more accustomed to the fundraising process with years of experience, they tend to open up as to how the process makes them feel and how it can have an affect on the people.  After announcing his retirement, Representative Steve Israel met with John Oliver to diascuss what really happens during congressional fundraising.  He admitted to pushing people to call for donations and forcing them to meet a certain quota.  However, Israel recognized that "the real victims of this torture have become American people."  They have to give their money to a fundraiser where the funds themselves are not even being used for the campaign process.
     Majority of the funds raised end up going to the Congress-persons political party to help other's campaigns. Even if the position is secure, a certain minimum of funds must be raised.  These funds that are to be given range from $125,000 to $800,000.  If this is the amount for a typical Congressional campaign, one can only imagine how much money is being raised in the presidential elections this year.  If politicians are willing to take such large sums of money for a cause that does not make a single group happy, then politicians should initiate change to the system.  This system of "paying dues" also can create a large debt, and if Congress is already okay with doing that on a personal level, then there is a likely chance to do the same thing while in office.  Our nation has a large sum of debt that we constantly struggle to keep under control.  Paying dues can quickly get out of hand and become a habit.  Habits such as these, on a national level, have a negative affect on the people most of all.  These funds are coming from the people, and yet they are not being used to their benefit.
     The politician piggy bank is always growing at the expense of the American people, even though it exists to benefit them.  Congressional funding is not bad if it is done in moderation and the funds are used for their intended purpose, rather than paying dues.