Imitation and Evolution: Who is the Originator?

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” as the old adage goes. However, how free exactly are creative minds to use aspects of other artists’ works in crafting their own? When does flattery become downright copying and is that okay? Not all artists are flattered. From furniture and fashion designers, visual artists to musicians and more, the increasing recycling of form and impression raises questions, which yield more brow-raising answers.

There are several scholarly articles that address the concerns of the artists, but has anyone addressed the evolution of the art? In a four-part TED Radio Hour podcast, “What Is Original?” host Guy Raz surveys a unique perspective and “explores how sampling, borrowing, and riffing makes all of us innovators.”

Listen to Part 1 of the TED Radio Hour episode: “Why Would More Than 500 Artists Sample The Same Song?” with speaker Mark Ronson