April 05, 2006

The Amen break: culture and copyright An 18-minute, 34mb movie discussing the means by which a 6-second sample of music released in 1969 went on to influence, indeed create, a whole musical subculture. Some thoughts about what copyright means for artists, too.

Searched, didn't find. Am hoping this is worthy of the FPP. Delete if not.

posted by DrAwkward 18 years ago
  • Here's the link. I'm watching this now... so far it's really interesting.
  • Thanks for the link correction. Apologies for my butterfingers/n00biness.
  • This short movie fascinated me when I first watched it a while ago. I love how the whole movie is just watching the record spin. After watching it I realized that it was made for the purpose of bringing up the copyright issue. Which is worthy of being thought about, but not really worth tacking onto the end of what appears to be a well researched nicely thought out idea. Good post DrAwkward
  • I thought for sure I wouldn't have the patience to sit through all of the 18 minutes, especially when the narrator's voice turned out to be about as engaging as a dead cat. But I did, and what an interesting story. Take the time to listen.
  • Thanks, DrAwkward, that was fascinating. Maybe I'll sample it. If copyright stifles culture, maybe we'll just be forced to use sounds that are free (traffic, trees, and trains) and create sounds that no one has heard before (easy, eh?). But if I want people to like my noise I have to use some cultural language. Damn you, culture! No, wait. Damn you, copyright! Oh, and prove that I've used your sample in an unrecognizable way. I love it when I can hear quotation marks: "what the kids in the margins are listening to these days".
  • If you haven't got time to watch the vid, or if you are (gasp!) at work, here's the down and dirty. Not nearly as interesting as the video, tho.
  • Oddly, this video is making the rounds today on Reddit and elsewhere. I guess our own brief visitor DrAwkward was on to something last year.