This presentation will address two interrelated issues: artistic borrowing of copyrighted material and elitism. Firstly, I will examine how artistic borrowing is navigated in underground and mainstream cultures, contrasting concepts such as “sample snitching” and sample clearance. This context will allow reflection on my own sample-based works. Secondly, I will explore elitism toward non-traditional composition, extending this to my own works, detailing emerging issues in relation to artistic suppression and prejudice. I conclude that both copyright limitations and hierarchies (separately and combined) marginalise innovative and experimental research projects in academia.
Alex Lowe is a multimedia composer and researcher undertaking a PhD at the University of Liverpool. Musically influenced by plunderphonics, diverse popular traditions, and electroacoustic music, Lowe’s works are constructed for immersive environments including surround sound, AV, lighting and more, reflecting a desire to create unique experiences. From this, his research utilises informed and iterative creative practice to devise a taxonomy of compositional methods that evoke audience nostalgia.
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