Re: An "entirely original" contribution (Was: copyright expiration...)

On 10, Sep 1998, John Logie <antrobus[_at_]ripco.com> wrote:
>
> Albert Henderson <noblestation[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
> >
> > If obtaining permissions is too much work, try doing something
> > that is entirely original.
>
> I would appreciate if if Mr. Henderson would identify some
> works which meet this standard, i.e. of being "entirely original."
> Myself, I have never encountered anything of the sort. And I am
> certainly unable to produce such works myself. Look! I even
> quoted Mr. Henderson in order to phrase my simple request!
>
> I am excited at the prospect of learning from exemplary
> works supplied by Mr. Henderson how I, myself, might
> construct my own "entirely original" works. But,
> hmmmmmn... if I learn something from these examples, and
> put it to use in my own work... well...
>
> On second thought, Mr. Henderson, please make sure that you
> DON'T identify those "entirely original" works. That way,
> I will make sure that I don't come into contact with them,
> so as to make sure that I am never contaminated by any
> influence which might prevent me from arriving at my own
> "entirely original" voice. Perhaps, if I do a good job of
> purging my memory of... well... everything, I will be able
> to express my influence-free "entirely original" thoughts in
> an "entirely original" language. I think I read something
> in a Borges story about this... oops! Even my thought of
> an "entirely original" language is not "entirely original."
> What now?
>
> This is clearly a difficult dilemma. But I'm sure that once
> Mr. Henderson explains how to produce "entirely original"
> works, that we will all be sure to give him proper credit
> for this idea in our own works.

As soon as one writes a novel, one is using a non-original form.

The best example of "original" writing is If On a Winter's Night a Traveller... by Italo Calvino. Each chapter is a conscious imitation of a different style of writing, as if by different authors' lost books.

Its "originality" consists entirely of its "imitativeness".

NB, Mr Henderson.

Michael A Scarpitti
Assistant Editor
Materials Evaluation
1711 Arlingate Lane
PO Box 28518
Columbus, Ohio 43228-0518
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<mscarpit[_at_]asnt.org> Received on Fri Sep 11 1998 - 13:26:48 GMT