2.9 Remix Cultures
The process of digitization—converting sounds, texts, and images (still and moving) into digital bytes of information—has paved the way for us to create new works by manipulating, appropriating, transforming, and recirculating existing media content. A variety of subcultures participate in remixing content because they are passionate about a specific style of production, whether it’s mixing music or editing videos or performing backyard theater. These amateur productions are drawn from multiple sources and illustrate the practice of remixing media as a form of participation. Online spaces provide opportunities for participants to share and build upon each other’s ideas.
The practice of remixing as we define it today gained popularity in the music industry as a result of the Jamaican dance hall culture of the 1960s where a DJ with microphone in hand would rally the crowd to start the party. The DJ would encourage a battle of the bands to determine which had the better sound. Using two turntables, the DJ would mix his favorite parts of multiple songs to force certain sounds and rhythms to stand out in relief. As DJ Spooky explains, “A DJ is a hunter and gatherer—collecting sounds, collecting images. We go off and hunt them down and gather them. It’s not a passive relationship where you sit there and press play. The whole idea is to make things change; have them transform. You’re changing a found sound, a found record, a found file.”
A new aesthetic based on remixing and repurposing media content has flowed across our culture—from work produced by media professionals in Hollywood or artists who exhibit in top museums, to teenagers mashing up their favorite anime series on their home computers or hip-hop DJs mixing and matching musical elements across different genres. Combining two very different genres creates a surprise for the listener while introducing a new style of music. This type of sampling is called a mashup. For example, music artist, Eminem laid rhythmic hip hop with a slow bass line underneath the lyrics that attracted a new generation of hip-hop listeners. This is an example of how an alternate music culture moved beyond the walls of the clubs into mainstream America, winning a 2002 Grammy for best remix.
With the increased availability and use of the creative tools found on the web, such as Mixx, Scratch Live, and Traktor and in software such as Reason, Pro Tools and GarageBand; as well as a community surrounding the practice, we can mix and manipulate audio files and publish our own songs.
In addition to music remixes, people are also remixing videos. A diverse subculture has developed on the web centered on creating and sharing video remixes. Armed with software programs such as iMovie or Windows Moviemaker, teens are learning from each other how to remix videos. Teachers can bring this creative production into the classroom. A variety of video remix styles, including movie trailer recuts, political remixes, and remixed music videos, allow students to build upon the originals and create new meaning, such as a parody, alternative messages, new forms of music with subliminal messages.
Fan vidders (vidder originates from song vid, vid short for video) create fan-made music videos derived from television shows or movies. If you’ve ever created slideshows set to music, then you are are a potential fan vidder. Fan vidding has a rich history of vids, aesthetics, and technologies. It formed the earliest music video remix culture having been in existence since 1975. Most notably, this is a genre primarily practiced by women since video making has been a male-dominated movement.
The practice of remixing as we define it today gained popularity in the music industry as a result of the Jamaican dance hall culture of the 1960s where a DJ with microphone in hand would rally the crowd to start the party. The DJ would encourage a battle of the bands to determine which had the better sound. Using two turntables, the DJ would mix his favorite parts of multiple songs to force certain sounds and rhythms to stand out in relief. As DJ Spooky explains, “A DJ is a hunter and gatherer—collecting sounds, collecting images. We go off and hunt them down and gather them. It’s not a passive relationship where you sit there and press play. The whole idea is to make things change; have them transform. You’re changing a found sound, a found record, a found file.”
A new aesthetic based on remixing and repurposing media content has flowed across our culture—from work produced by media professionals in Hollywood or artists who exhibit in top museums, to teenagers mashing up their favorite anime series on their home computers or hip-hop DJs mixing and matching musical elements across different genres. Combining two very different genres creates a surprise for the listener while introducing a new style of music. This type of sampling is called a mashup. For example, music artist, Eminem laid rhythmic hip hop with a slow bass line underneath the lyrics that attracted a new generation of hip-hop listeners. This is an example of how an alternate music culture moved beyond the walls of the clubs into mainstream America, winning a 2002 Grammy for best remix.
With the increased availability and use of the creative tools found on the web, such as Mixx, Scratch Live, and Traktor and in software such as Reason, Pro Tools and GarageBand; as well as a community surrounding the practice, we can mix and manipulate audio files and publish our own songs.
What inspires you? What song do you sing when you’re in the shower or alone in the car? If you’re looking for inspiration, begin at ccMixter, a great community for entering into the world of music remixes.
ACTIVITY: New Versions, New Voices
Click on the activity below. This will take you to the PLAY! platform where we have created a Flows of Reading community of practice. Here, you can register and participate in exploring dj culture.In addition to music remixes, people are also remixing videos. A diverse subculture has developed on the web centered on creating and sharing video remixes. Armed with software programs such as iMovie or Windows Moviemaker, teens are learning from each other how to remix videos. Teachers can bring this creative production into the classroom. A variety of video remix styles, including movie trailer recuts, political remixes, and remixed music videos, allow students to build upon the originals and create new meaning, such as a parody, alternative messages, new forms of music with subliminal messages.
Fan vidders (vidder originates from song vid, vid short for video) create fan-made music videos derived from television shows or movies. If you’ve ever created slideshows set to music, then you are are a potential fan vidder. Fan vidding has a rich history of vids, aesthetics, and technologies. It formed the earliest music video remix culture having been in existence since 1975. Most notably, this is a genre primarily practiced by women since video making has been a male-dominated movement.
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