The Internet, Copyright and Art Theft

With how vast the world wide web is, information can be spread quickly and easily to anyone in the world. Because of this commodity, many artist have taken advantage of this information processing to help advocate their works and make a name for themselves. The only problem with all this free information being so easily accessible and the internet being so big is that its just as easy for anyone to steal information. One’s own art is no exception.

Art theft is very much a reality as anything posted online is vulnerable for anyone to grab and be edited or made into merchandise without the original creator’s permission. This is a huge problem since someone else is taking credit for someone else’s work and is being sold for profit. None going to the original creators.

What can be done to prevent your work from being stolen?

The simplest and most common way to prevent art theft is to copy right your works. Although the task may seem daunting, its a lot easier then one might think. As stated in Protect Your work: Copyright Infringement, as soon an art work is created, it is automatically copyrighted under the creator. Even if they aren’t selling the work for profit, it is their property and thus made illegal for anyone else to claim it.

Another anti-theft method is to add water marks on their works. By putting your label on your work in a way a thief can’t edit out, it prevents the thief from being able to get away with stealing their work. This method alone maybe effective for some, but  the draw back of water marks is that it can damper the visual impact of your work. As said in another ArtBistro article, This is especially relevant to those who have to present their work to not just viewers, but also potential clients. First impressions are important and if that fails, you deter people away from your work.

If watermarking isn’t doing the trick then another way is to try build up your presence online. Sounds self explanatory I know.  Although gaining popularity does mean that its more likely for you to be targeted by art thieves, being well know also means you will have loyal fans who will report to you about your work being used inappropriately. When you track down and try to stop the thief, your fans will also have your back.

Even with all these precautions, Art theft will always exist if there are still those that create new ideas. What we can do is be vigilant and keep an eye out for any potential thief looking to make a quick buck on your or anyone else’s ideas.

Of Medicine and Art

Original link

Robert Gupta was stuck between the choice to either becoming a doctor or a violinist. In this dilemma, he sought to find a middle ground in his  passions. He wanted to be able to help others through the field of medicine, but not be chained down by just on how society views doctors should be. What he found was that he combined both skills to have his passion in music help in his career in medicine into what is know as music therapy.  At the young age of 19, Gupta joined the LA Philharmonic and maintains a passionate parallel interest in neurobiology and mental health issues.

“The beauty of music has the ability to speak where words fail.” – Robert Gupta

Politics and what it holds for the future of Art Education

Written in this post by Huffingtonpost by Lucas Kavner, politics and art do go hand in hand. In this case, who is in charge can affect if the Arts will be taught to students in schools all over the United States. On one hand, Romney advocates for a budget plan that would, “eliminate funding for the NEA, PBS, and NPR”, which effectively, will demote funding for Art programs in general. On the other hand, Obama seeks to increase funding for the Arts by more then 5%, thus not only benefiting the maintenance of facilities for the Arts such as Museums  but as well as continuing Art education in schools.

Now, why should we be concerned about how this will Art education?

At least to me, if budgets are cut, then that means there will be less funding to teach students the Arts. Now most would see cutting Art funding will be beneficial to education in favor of other programs, but in reality, that won’t be the case for student in the future.

In Cuts to Arts Education Would Shortchange Our Children by Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition, she states that the cuts to Art Education would not only undermine students education in the Arts, but student will also be “devoid of the arts curriculum that has long been a core part of a well-rounded, complete public education”. According to her, art education is a given right for students in order to have  a full and rounded education that the school systems should offer.

In a previous post, I mentioned an EDUCATIONnext article that goes into more depth about why we should advocate the arts in the classroom. In more ways then one, Art is a effective way to teach student to not only express one’s self, but also to help students learn to communicate above just conventional means. It also advocates to them how to function in the world they live in while also helping them bridge their differences in race, culture, and life styles. If Art funding is taken away, then these teaching methods are taking away, thus could harm students as there is nothing to help teach them how to express themselves in the future above just learning math and science.

What will happen to the education of the Arts after the presidential elections? We won’t know for sure till who is voted in to office, but hopefully whether or not who is going to continue to lead our country,  Art Education may still benefit in some way in this ever changing system.

Why is Art education important?

With the many budget cuts in education in general, art programs are one of such things that have been hit hardest by these cuts. Many who who support the Arts  are currently and still protesting against these budget cuts as seen with these students of Cortines School of Visual and Performance Arts in an entry of the Los Angelas Times.

Students at the Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts demonstrate against budget cuts. (c) Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

In the article, it talks about that these cuts not only affect the students, but also the teachers of art programs as well. The cuts replaces or lays off teachers, evidently depleting job openings concerning Art education. In extension  this affects the students as they are barred from Art education.

In the EDUCATIONnext entry, we are given in depth explanation on how it can affect students.  Although such examples are broad and may not always be effective, reasons that help one communicate with others do explain why people still love and fight for Art.

Expressions of the Self

Since art in any form is the expression of the self, it is generally viewed as something some what intangible to most, especially to those who aren’t the artists themselves. “Outsiders” which most categorize usually  the everyday person who just isn’t art savvy are usually victims of this.  Because of the “self” view most have on art, it make it tough for people to relate to the art forms unless it directly correlates with their interest. Even then, Art is still usually seen as a luxury that only those who can own or create art can appreciate. That the only kind of art worth noting are the ones displayed in museums. Of course there’s nothing wrong with those are they still very much are master works that deserve to be displayed, what I hope to advocate is to prove that art isn’t just a luxury for the lucky few, but a communal privilege for anyone to understand and hopefully also enjoy. That even the simplest expressions of self can be considered art.

Laughing Squid

 

 

 

Laughing Squid’s profile image

Winner of the People’s Voice Award for the best Cultural Blog in the 15th Annual Webby Awards, Laughing Squid is known for always being on top of the latest creative news. Although it may seem like just another art blog, it can catch the eye of viewers of not only art, but also of culture and technology. In a way, the blog helps depict that anything can be considered aesthetically appealing while also making it more convient for viewers by displaying the works for them, making it easier for anyone to go through and see what interests them.  Launched in 2003, its founder Scott Beale has maintained and still keeps on posting new things from the art world. If you would like to check it out, just visit http://laughingsquid.com/.

From here to ear (version 15)

HangarBicocca, Milan, Italy.

Site-specific installation by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, curated by Andrea Lissoni.

Videos here and here.

On top of the photos capturing the experiment beautifully, the concept of creating music with the use of animal behavior is also interesting and clever.

Photos © Costas Voyatzis.

Source: ruineshumaines @ tumblr

 

How can art affect anything? (About the Blog)

Art is not only an important aspect of culture, but it also can influence the development of individuality. Although some would sneer and make fun of the notion, saying things like “art is not necessary” or saying the whole notion is plain cheesy, but these no denying that it exist in out everyday lives. It defines our surroundings and although some may not realize, it can affect our point of views. It doesn’t have to be just on a canvas, art can be anything whether on buildings, with words, or even with living creatures. It can even inspire new ideas or even improve on existing ideas.  Art influences how we view our world and how we would like to change it, whether the means or outcomes end up positively or negatively.

Everything has an aesthetic appeal, it all depends on the who and how you view it. Of course there will be doubters of this notion, but hopefully even the non-artistic savvy viewers will find an appeal. What I hope to achieve in differentiating my blog on the subject is hopefully not just only show and tell, but hopefully to even enlighten and broaden the audience mindset.