During my years of attempting to complete any kind of creative process while simultaneously being a big (and I mean big) consumer of entertainment, I’ve come to recognise that one of the biggest obstacles I’ve run across is, like, painfully simple: you have to be original, but you can’t be too different, either. You need to aim towards being the next Shakespeare, the next Spielberg and the next Beatles (please help me I don’t know what’s popular), but also God forbid you actually produce similar content to them.
Considering how much we venerate so many works of art, literature, music and so on, we sure love calling people unoriginal hacks as well. Now, don’t get me wrong--- originality is great and fun and should always be encouraged, but we seem to be enforcing a weird double standard of looking for something to be both comparable to, yet completely dissimilar, to whatever has been deemed worthy. We want the next Lord of the Rings and Star Wars and Pokémon or whatever the kids are into these days, but we also don’t, which is kind of a problem. You see, people have this funky habit of liking things. And sometimes when we like things, we want to see similar things. And sometimes we might even want to make similar things. But somewhere in this process the world turns sour on you and the content that they begged to see more turns stupid and bland the moment someone else produces it. What do you mean there’s a magic school in your story? That’s already been done! Pointillism? Old news! A specific melody vaguely similar to another song? Oh, jail for you! Jail for you for One Hundred Years!
Now, I understand the desire to protect your own content and that of others. Straight-up plagiarism and uncredited borrowing are genuinely unethical and disrespectful, but the point where I fall off the hate bandwagon. Why are we so quick to judge content if we can see overt or covert traces of something else? How are we able to enjoy a work so much yet are so diametrically opposed to content that reminds us of, or explicitly borrows from it? If all the sources are credited, isn’t it only a labour of love instead of a damn cardinal sin?
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery is kind of a dry expression: it’s been used to the death, it only reminds people of being told not to be angry at their siblings copying them. It’s a throwaway line to soothe wounded egos or placate those tired of feeling robbed of their uniqueness. But, like, it’s also kind of true. Doesn’t borrowing from something usually mean you value it and wish to include it in your work? Isn’t that the same damn principle as citing a source in your essay? It’s a legitimate show of respect. What exactly is the problem?
We seem to find something inherently wrong in enjoying a work if it’s based on something, or at least find a measure of internalised shame in it. You’re allowed to be a fan of X, but being a fan of X fanfiction? Music inspired by X? No, that’s wrong, you’re taking it too far. You’ve passed some imaginary line between normal enjoyment and wrong enjoyment. And if you’re the one producing this, shame on you. Clearly you have no talent of your own so you’re just stealing other people’s works and ideas, you honky-tonk clown of a creator.
A lot of this apprehension is directed towards derivative works, works based on previous material created by others you’ve chosen to reinterpret, expand upon, alter or pay tribute to in another way. Covers, prequels, sequels, spinoffs, original stories in the setting, fanfiction, fanart, fansongs, lots of other words that start with fan- and anything else you can think off
Derivative works are not uninspired, cheap or something created by people too lazy to create something totally original. They’re a mix of showing your love for something and your own creative input, it’s giving something original to content you love, a blend of originality and adulation. The characters, setting or melody might not be your own but they’re still your words, your brushstrokes, your voice and your sound put into motion.
Nothing is fully original. Every idea comes from something, and we should stop acting like being frank about it somehow devalues your work, input or the love you put in the process. Just be cool, kids. Just because it’s not your exact opinion or interpretation doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
