The Connection between Appropriation and Affinity Spaces
By Sarah Doyon
Introduction
Today, the use of appropriation is found in almost every corner of the internet and media industry. While there are skeptics who criticize the use of appropriation, many have found the effects to be positive and even beneficial, especially when used by young adults who are involved in an affinity space. In this paper, I will outline what appropriation is, some of its earliest uses, and its connection to creativity and originality. I will also address what affinity spaces are and how they use appropriation. I will provide a series of examples, both related to groups online and in-person, to show specifically how appropriation and affinity spaces work together. While I would like to have a concrete answer as to the existence of appropriation, when and where it first began, and why we use it within affinity spaces, there is not enough information published at this time to give a rational explanation. For now, I will be examining insight written in select articles that offer ideas into why appropriation is so widely used, especially in fan-led groups.
What is Appropriation?
Appropriation is the act of changing, remixing, or sampling an idea, concept, or work. (57). Appropriation is widely used but sometimes never thought of outside the case of “ripping off” other artists’ works (55). Most movies, TV shows, and books offer some type of appropriation, whether it be in the form of the similarity of a movie poster’s style, a parody such as The Starving Games (which is a spoof of the popular movie The Hunger Games), or an adaptation or remake of a previously created idea, as we see with every new Spider-Man movie that is released. Many teenagers who are not familiar with Shakespeare would not know that the early 2000’s comedy She’s the Man is a modern version of his sonnet Twelfth Night, taking both the overall plot and characters and simply adding a twist. The appropriation of Shakespeare and other well-known literature is something that I will talk more about later on. Despite appropriation seeming to have taken off with the creation of technology and social media, some sources have shown that this technique is nothing new and that it was practiced before modern day. In Julie Van Camp’s article on appropriation in art, she synthesizes that “Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, among others, used existing works of art or elements of popular culture in their works” (2). Because of this, we know that appropriation has been practiced since at least the late 1800’s and has been done by even the most famous influencers in art and the media.
Appropriation and Meaning
It can easily be questioned whether or not appropriators are simply “copying” other artists’ works or if there is more meaning behind what they do. Van Camp and other sources believe that there is never an original idea (2) and that artists always “build on, are inspired by, appropriate and transform other artists’ work” (Jenkins 55). Hayley Rowe, a graduate in History of Modern Art, strengthens these ideas by claiming that artists believe that by using appropriation techniques, you can “renegotiate” or change the original meaning of the message to make it more modern, much like She’s the Man did (1). Besides popular teen movies, there are also many appropriated literature works inspired by Shakespeare as well—many of which involve changing around the text to show the story from a different angle. For example, the short story, “Gertrude Talks Back,” written by Margaret Atwood, rewrites a scene from Hamlet to show a different point of view (Desmet 9). Jane Austen is also a frequently appropriated writer with movie adaptations, fan-fiction, and literature stemming from her well-known books. Why so many people have chosen these works to add on to does not seem to be answered. Depending on the work, the level of appropriation can either be easily noticed or much harder to identify (6). Like it was mentioned in the previous paragraph, not everyone is aware of the remixing and sampling that is happening in the media. Some works will be upfront about the connection that it has to the original, and other times, not so much. When credit is not blankly stated, I am curious about where the line between appropriation and theft is. This is not a black-and-white question and can be debatable.
Affinity Spaces and Appropriation
What are affinity spaces? Affinity spaces are groups of people who have similar interests, abilities, or purposes. They can be in many locations, both virtual and physical, and usually involve some form of teaching or interaction. In some, they work together to promote change or spread a message, and in others, they simply share their enjoyment of what they love. These groups can be anything from a church group to a political activist organization to an interactive website dedicated to the Twilight series. (2). With our ever-growing access to the internet, more groups have been formed as well as become accessible to a wide variety of people. A large amount of these newly formed spaces can be found practicing and using appropriation. In fact, many of their main purposes surround this. By having access to these groups, young adults have the power to connect with others and expand their understanding of literature and even culture. (Curwood 2). In politically-led affinity spaces, appropriation can often be used to get their message across–particularly when making signs for protests. Many signs combine their views with characters or quotes from popular media. In fan-led affinity spaces, teens can transform works they love and have an “authentic audience” (Nicklas 4) when sharing their creations. They are motivated and have the choice in how they participate within the group. Fans can create stories, songs, videos, or any other form of media based around the chosen work that they choose to appropriate. On the website Tumblr, anyone can post, “like,” and share pictures, videos, and texts. This is a popular place for fans to post their own appropriated works and receive feedback as well as interact with others who share similar interests. You can find a wide variety of posts such as Marvel fan-fiction and Harry Potter fan-art, all of which are inspired by the characters and plots created for their respected universe. What I am interested in is why people are motivated to use ideas that have already been created and what kind of effect that has on both the appropriator and its audience.
Why do we love to remake things?
According to Pascal Nicklas, “In order to enrich their reading experienced and make intertextual connections, young people often look beyond the trilogy to the online portal of affinity spaces that feature fan-created stories, podcasts, videos, songs, and games” (5). In many cases, fans are looking to add on to what they’ve already read or seen, such as writing a sequel to a standalone book or film. Other times, they are looking to change the content to fit their own expectations, needs, or ideas. Maybe they end up giving a character a redemption arc, or imagine a different ending, or give the protagonist a different backstory. Maybe they add in their own character and center the story around them. In Fans, Bloggers, and Gamers: Exploring Participatory Culture, also written by Henry Jenkins, it is expressed that the appropriated text is “forced to respond to the fan’s own social agenda” (59). This can be explained in the ways fans warp original works into a way that may have not been intended by the author, such as changing a character’s sexuality or gender, or having two characters end up together who did not originally. These changes can oftentimes reflect the appropriator’s own personal views or needs. Appropriation can also be a way to better connect to and appreciate media and literature and gain an understanding of the work you’re interpreting and remaking (Sanders 2). As more articles are published on appropriation and even appropriation is related to affinity spaces, maybe we will be able to better answer the question of why we have the urge to change what has already been done.
Conclusion
With affinity spaces, especially related to appropriation and technology, there is a limited amount of research and articles published, meaning that this paper was mostly constricted to what has already been talked about. Many have found the effects of appropriation and affinity spaces to be positive, especially to young adults. By using appropriation, people are able to add on to the works or ideas they love and are inspired by. The basic act of appropriation requires at least a basic level of creativity and imagination even though it is building off of or remaking what has already been created. By doing this, young adults can better their skills and apply that to their everyday life. I am interested in finding out more on how appropriation can be integrated into affinity spaces as well as how and why the practice came about. I hope that more information will come along as time continues and that appropriation will better be represented and encouraged in affinity spaces, the media, and schools.
Works Cited:
Curwood, Jen Scott, et al. “Writing in the Wild: Writers’ Motivation in Fan‐Based Affinity Spaces.” The Reading Teacher, Wiley-Blackwell, 2 May 2013, Wiley.com.
Desmet, Christy, and Robert Sawyer. “Shakespeare and Appropriation.” Google Books.
Jenkins, Henry. “Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture.” Google Books, 5 June 2009.
Julie C. Van Camp (2007) Originality in Postmodern Appropriation Art, The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 36:4, 247-258, DOI: 10.3200/JAML.36.4.247-258, doi.org.
Nicklas, Pascal, and Oliver Lindner. “Adaptation and Cultural Appropriation.” Google Books.
Rowe, Hayley, and A. “Appropriation in Contemporary Art.” Inquiries Journal, Inquiries Journal, 1 June 2011.
Sanders, Julie. “Adaptation and Appropriation.” Google Books.