The Appropriation artists of the 1980's were doing so initially in order =
to make a comment about Western culture's ideas of creativity and =
originality.  They borrowed works from other artists and called it their =
own, but there was also a clear "trail" back to the original artist.  =
The problems with copyright became manifest when Jeff Koons took cartoon =
characters or photographs and had them reproduced in another media and =
sold them for big bucks.  The big bucks were not shared. =20

Too often artists feel that photographs are fair game for copying.  It =
seems they think that the photograph is not a work of art.  They look at =
the photograph as a short cut to a person or view that they could go and =
see, but having this little magic window saves them the trouble.  This =
is a common problem.  It can be addressed in the courts, if there is =
enough of an economic factor, but the best solution is education of =
artists to consider the implications of what they are doing. If =
appropriation makes the statement they wish to make, fine.  Do it and =
accept the consequences.  If not then they should do the work to develop =
their own imagery.



Artistic freedom is hardly being stamped out. Artists do not need
legal permissions to interpret what they see.  They need legal
permission to COPY another artist's work.
-------------------------------------
Name: amalyah keshet
Director, Visual Resources, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
E-mail: akeshet@imj.org..il
Date: 03/22/96

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