Plagiarism and Innovation – Compare Written Article to PressPausePlay Video

Here are some questions for you to consider:

1. The article is being deliberately provocative and deliberately tactical in how it employs the word ‘plagiarism’ in this essay. In fact, this work is a manifesto written in the tradition of a long history of art manifestoes. To wit—there is a certain degree of self-aggrandizing, hyperbole and bravado in the name of ‘revolutionary tactics’. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of employing this particular literary device? Do you get a similar sense from anyone in the film (or from the film itself) PressPausePlay? Who? Why?
2. “Readymades, collage, found art or found text, intertexts, combines, detournment, and appropriation—all these terms represent explorations in plagiarism.” Does this help you understand a bit more about what the artticle is getting at? How are they defining plagiarism, and how does it differ (or not) from how you have been taught to interpret it? How does the remix, readymade, recombination factor into the PressPausePlay?
3. The word ‘utopia’ literally means ‘no place,’ not a ‘good’ (or even perfect) place as we commonly believe. It was coined by Plato, who probably intended the double meaning. Critical Art Ensemble (CAE) is certainly aware of this. So, with that information, tell me this: Why ‘Utopian Plagiarism’? How does this concept relate to the movie?
4. “The video revolution failed for two reasons—a lack of access and an absence of desire.” This was written in 1991. How does it compare to the current state of consumers and technology? Specifically, how does it relate to the movie “PressPausePlay”?
5. Again, this question is posed by CAE, yet relates to the movie “PressPausePlay” as well. “What is the point of saving language when there is no longer anything to say?” What is your understanding of this question, and how to you respond?