Review of RiP!: A Remix Manifesto (2008) by David J — 23 Nov 2009

One of the most thought-provoking documentaries I've seen in ages, filmmaker Brett Gaylor investigates illegal downloading of music and movies, remixing of other artists, and numerous other subjects in a thorough history and breakdown of American and international copyright law.

The main focus is on Girl Talk, a Canadian DJ who uses samples from as many as 21 songs to create often unrecognizable new works. How are his creations different from the "found art" of Andy Warhol? Or Walt Disney? Did Napster change the world? Should intellectual property be protected or accessible to everyone to use in their own way? If you've ever downloaded or ripped a song in your life, you need to see this movie.