Response to Lawrence Lessig's "Laws That Choke Creativity"

Lawrence Lessig's TED Talk, "Laws That Choke Creativity," delves into our world's "read-write culture," which is "where people participate in the creation and the re-creation of their culture." He argues that the Internet and digital technology have the opportunity to "revive the read-write culture," which waned in the twentieth century into a "read-only existence," through today's "kids" who are building a community "where people produce for the love of what they're doing and not for the money." Anyone with access to a computer can utilize John Philip Sousa's "romanticized" vocal chords, which Lessig acknowledges "is how our kids speak" and connect with others.

I think that Lessig has a very positive view of millennials or these "kids" because most people from his generation view us as living lives devoid of any depth in our social interactions. One of the most common stereotypes that my parents' generation will eagerly bring up is that millennials and whatever irrelevant generation came after (I'm half kidding) will go out to eat with friends and spend the entire time on their phones (which is not 100% inaccurate). Sometimes it feels like we can only view the world through a Snapchat filter or Instagram story. Lessig, however, seems to have hope that our generation will bring the world out of this dreaded "read-only" demise, noting that parents made mix tapes and watched TV while their kids remix music and make TV. It feels reassuring to hear that not all middle-aged adults see us all as a generation of failures who are glued to their technology, but rather empowered by technology.

Lessig also brings up a need for balance between over-copyrighting and "copyright abolitionism,"urging his audience to use competition to find equilibrium. He argues that "artists and creators" should have "their work be made available more freely" for non-commercial purposes because we're stifling people's potential when we try to forbid them from building on or enhancing someone else's creations. This makes me think of all these random stock photos that are turned into viral memes for Internet users' entertainment through some shoddy editing, which allows the original creator's stock photo to be reached and enjoyed by billions of more people after "kids" add a comical caption or two. It's (ideally) harmless fun and wouldn't be possible without being able to modify someone else's original work.

I can attest to Lessig's observation that copyrights don't seem to mean much to my generation. We'll keep posting videos on YouTube with illegal music, we'll keep finding pirated movies to watch for free online, and we'll keep downloading music without buying it. This "age of prohibitions" that Lessig describes doesn't stop us, so let's put an end to blatantly living "life against the law" and make change.