“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.”
- Jim Jarmusch
Saw this quote from some time ago and only recently remembered it. It got me thinking is everything in existence really just a form of imitation from one another? I suppose we'll have to really go far back in history to really find what is truly original. Without knowledge of that, I guess every idea that was thought of, everything that was made was inspired from somewhere.
Birds paved the way to airplanes. Torches became candles then kerosene lamps then the light bulb. Writing becomes printing. But I think there is more to it than that. Things are never original if the person is intentionally trying to create something. What about things that exist that happened because of an accident? Like how post-it notes and penicillin was made by mistake, or how bubble wrap was never intended to be used to protect heavy goods during transport but was actually wallpaper for houses, or the static noise when the television has no reception.
After all, if Jarmusch's quote is true, then how are we suppose to "steal" something when we don't even know how or what is being stolen or where will it be brought? When accidents happen there can be originality.
Birds paved the way to airplanes. Torches became candles then kerosene lamps then the light bulb. Writing becomes printing. But I think there is more to it than that. Things are never original if the person is intentionally trying to create something. What about things that exist that happened because of an accident? Like how post-it notes and penicillin was made by mistake, or how bubble wrap was never intended to be used to protect heavy goods during transport but was actually wallpaper for houses, or the static noise when the television has no reception.
After all, if Jarmusch's quote is true, then how are we suppose to "steal" something when we don't even know how or what is being stolen or where will it be brought? When accidents happen there can be originality.
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