What is Original? Fight Club

Pro- There is no originality

Con- There is true originality


Pro Arguments- Matt Graham

• There will always be a source. For instance, the podcast raises many valid points.  
• Bob Dillon borrowed 2/3 of his melodies from other artists. This is called "sampling". 
• The "riff" from Free Bird came from the song Torus by Spirit. 
• Steve Jobs inventions with multi-touch weren't incredible. 
• In fashion, there are very few property rights. 
• The Big Bang was original but there is math that contradicts those theory. 
• These examples came about because these people's ideas were inspired from somewhere else, whether it was intentional or not. 
• Every choice that someone makes is influenced by someone else. 

Con Arguments- Matthew Gottsaker

• When you expand upon something, you are transforming something and building off of it. Even though it is originally from somewhere else people's inputs are original and so are the changes they created. 
• For example, when Bob Dillon sampled his songs, he created a new environment with the riff and thus created his own original work. His work is greatly appreciated today, even though people know it is unoriginal.  
• Ideas are meant to be expanded on, thus there is true originality. 
• As long as you credit the original creator, it gives you the right to expand of their ideas. 
• With the multi-touch technology, it may not have been original but he expanded on it in his own way and revolutionized the concept which has impacted society immensly. 
• Ben Franklin never patented anything because he wanted people to build off of his ideas and in the end improve them. It is never a bad idea to have multiple points of view. 

Pro Counter- Matt Graham

• Ultimately, there are two types of originality There is completely original work, where the creator or inventor inspired his work from his own thoughts, and there is influenced originality where the creator was inspired by others work to create something new. 
• For example, when homo-erectus started to use tools in new and innovative ways, this was original which shows that everything started somewhere which proves the theory of originality. 
• The definition of original is more cultural. 

Con Counter- Matthew Gottsaker

• People tend to see that the only things that original are things that have a large impact on society. 
• This is a misconception, as those developments aren't any different then sampling the words "Hit it". Even though it is unoriginal those people had a whole new creative intention, which is original.