MyÜberLife

It is quite lovely to see companies engaging their audiences with insightful content.  We came across this new release from the  Ericsson Company this Saturday afternoon.  This documentary highlights the shift in our world as society is entering a new era.  An era where technology has enabled us to interact, innovate and share knowledge in whole new ways – creating a dynamic shift in mindset.  Some may say that today people are more empowered, businesses are much more liberated and society is more connected than ever.  I think it is fair to say that knowledge is power. We know information leads to knowledge, which leads to better understanding of our being in relation to that knowledge, which then leads to wisdom.  This wisdom allows us to foresee the opportunities and drive us to create new paradigms which shift the way ‘we’ do things.  We have seen this wisdom manifest itself in all industries more specifically in fashion and music.  Companies like Net-A-Porter  and their ’disruptive’ business model which has in many ways changed the organizational structure of the entire fashion industry.  We also seen similar ’disruption’ in the music industry as well, where within a 10 year period, the way music is enjoyed and consumed has completely changed a 100 year old  business practice (Napster & Itunes).  New paradigms are introduced daily affecting the way we look and enjoy reality.  

The internet and technology, as a whole, will scale-up this ‘disruptive’ phenomenon. With further access, society will interact with information on a ‘comprehensible incomprehensible’ level.  We now can connect to the highest levels of human knowledge and creativity in a way that was inconceivable 15 years ago via a mobile device the size of child’s palm. But can we even begin to concieve what 15 years from now will look like?  It seems what we imagine and beyond is possible and everything and anything is open to change as we walk deeper into the 21st century.  This documentary brings serenity around this topic and attempts to inspire the viewer ( I am inspired as I write this).

Please enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts. Posted by Jey Van-Sharp of MyUberLife

Everything is a Remix is a 4 part short video series from writer / director / editor, Kirby Ferguson.  The series explores the concept of creation, and how just about everything in our society, from ideas and products, to services and experiences, are essentially a remix of something that came before it.

The video above is the first part of the series where Kirby explores the origins of the word “remix” and demonstrates that the actual concept of “remixing” dates back long before the introduction of hip hop into ‘mass’ culture.  He cites everyone from prolific rock group, Led Zeppelin, to experimental writer, William Burroughs, who, in 1961, was the first person to coin the phrase “Heavy Metal,” taken from his novel The Soft Machine.  Ironically, Burroughs’ book was also an early example of “remixing,” having been completed by implementing the ‘cut-up technique,’ which takes existing writing, chops it up, and rearranges it into a new format.

Later in the video Kirby goes on to examine the concept of ‘legal remixing,’ which, as Kirby defines, are ‘covers’ - performances of other people’s material, and ‘knock-offs’ - copies that stay within legal boundaries.  It’s important to note that ‘Covers’ and ‘knock-offs’ are not new concepts; they are complex issues that continue to plague the cultural economy, especially within the world of fashion.

In the later parts of the series Kirby explores the worlds of film, philosophy, and technology to further reinforce his supposition that “remixing” is a way of life, and without it, innovation could not exist.

To me, what’s really interesting about this video, and its successive parts, is that it demonstrates that copying and borrowing are a natural part of the creative process.  That throughout history, it is nearly impossible to find any idea, concept, innovation, product, service, or experience that did not copy or borrow elements from someone or something else already in existence.

In fact, Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, confirms this idea in his landmark book on personal success.  In the book, Hill introduces the concept of synthetic imagination and states that it is one of the primary means to creation and invention.  Hill stated that, “one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations.  This faculty […] works with the material of experience, education, and observation with which it is fed.  It is the faculty most used by the inventor […].”

Many times, its during the act of copying or borrowing that we stumble upon our own genius, and begin on our own paths towards greatness.  Often, its our failure to fully emulate the person or thing we are attempting to copy that leads us to our own unique gifts.  Conan O’Brien, popular talk show host, and arguably a comedic genius, confirms this point in his 2011 commencement speech at Dartmouth College.  Conan stated that, “It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique.  It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune, and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention.”

Enjoy the part 1 of Everything is a Remix shown above.  Parts 2 and 3 are also available at http://vimeo.com/14912890.  Part 4 comes out this fall.  Happy watching! 

posted by Kwasi Gyasi and Winston Peters of MyUberLife