November 10, 2009

Pay indie artists and break the music monopoly — Legalize Music Piracy

Music is a dead industry walking. A radical all-you-can-eat plan promises unlimited tunes and puts artists — not record companies — first Politically speaking, it was a pretty good haul of booty. On June 7, an organization of self-described “pirates” took what was a fairly small step toward gaining real political clout, but a gigantic leap for everyone in the world who has ever downloaded... [More >>]

May 1, 2009

The Message is the Medium

Are emerging cut-and-paste art forms ruining narrative storytelling? Before my son Louis could walk, he could surf. He took to the internet like an aquatic creature, swimming easily and confidently. It was cute to see him perched at the computer, his big baby head topped off by a pair of giant headphones. But his avidity made me uneasy, a disquiet that lingers still, when I hover over his shoulder... [More >>]

September 1, 2003

Unchain your melodies! Why we should stop worrying about ’stolen’ music

It was a snowy April day in Ottawa, and a collection of us culture-types were sticking our heads out of the permafrost to discuss one of the most important issues facing the arts in Canada. Twenty creators—musicians, writers, visual artists, filmmakers—joined Sheila Copps, the mighty minister of Can-Con, and various heritage department officials to conduct a potentially policy-shaping discussion... [More >>]

September 1, 2003

Writers of the World, Unclench

Digital technology is making it impossible to control the spread of intellectual property. So, how are artists supposed to make a living from their work? Give it away. Every line we succeed in publishing today—no matter how uncertain the future to which we entrust it—is a victory wrenched from the powers of darkness. —Walter Benjamin For about five years now, I’ve been obsessed with the... [More >>]