A Healthy Sampling of Materials

As a rule, I’m not a big fan of “sampling” other artists’ work. In the first place, as a matter of at least initial impression, the sampler appears to be taking credit for someone else’s work — I still remember a coworker being amazed upon hearing Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots,” never realizing that the music wasn’t created for Will Smith’s “Men in Black.” More significantly, however, the result is usually crap that demeans the artistic value of the original.

There are exceptions, of course, instances where the artistic contribution of the new creation does merit favorable consideration; just sticking within the realm of music, I’m particularly fond of Everclear’s “AM Radio,” which freely samples Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.” And the other day — brought to my attention by an article in the Post — I found another one.

Micah Wright is taking old, World War II-era propaganda posters and recasting them in light of the current War on Freedom. Oh, I’m sorry, the War on Terrorism. And oh, my god, some of them are dead-on. I immediately went and ordered his book (a compilation of the posters) as well as a few other items. At the very least, I urge everyone to take a look at his Propaganda Remix Project. And if you want to start copying and mass-posting some of the book images (which he actually encourages), I’d be all the happier.

So go already — what are you sitting around here for?

Oh, and if you’re coming back from that little sojourn, I’m on my way out the door again tomorrow, this time up to Maine for a little family vacation on Sutton Island, off the coast of Bar Harbor. I’ll be back next week — though given Blogger’s publishing problems, I’d be willing to bet you’re reading this well after I’ve returned.

In which case, I had a great time, and the lobster was delicious.