The concept of remix–that of taking existing media texts or cultural products and reworking or recontextualizing them–has everything to do with media literacy. In an age when the ‘active audience’ is able to write fan-fiction for their favorite stories, remix their favorite songs, and mash-up film and video, discussions of media consumption and production have to pay attention to the interactive experiences offered by today’s digital media landscape.
When we talk through the credits of our favorite machinima videos, webcomics, or mash-ups, we can discuss issues of consumer agency, intellectual property, media ownership, the history of mash-ups and remixes, etc. Hopefully the following activities will provide us with the chance to discuss, critically consume and consciously create some media.
A Harry Potter fan-fiction story in which Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny must rescue Fred and George Weasley from Azkaban, where they’ve been imprisoned for violating the ‘magical property rights’ of the rich and powerful Jacqueline Roundling.
The story addresses issues of remix and intellectual property laws.
An X-Men web-comic in which the origin of the newest member of the team, Remix, is revealed. Remix, a teenager from Rio de Janeiro has the power to absorb and combine the mutant abilities of those around her.
The comic addresses some of the historical, philosophical, and artistic origins of the remix.
RIP! A Remix Manifesto is a documentary directed by Brett Gaylor and co-produced by EyeSteelFilm and the National Film Board of Canada. It addresses contemporary debates over copyright law and remix culture and features Lawrence Lessig, Cory Doctorow, Gilberto Gil and remix artists GirlTalk, AmpLive and Negativland.
This video review, created for the Journal of Media Literacy Education, summarizes the film’s argument and discusses its applicability to media literacy.