Letham Summary

In his article, Jonathan Letham discusses what plagiarism means in the art world and how many pieces of art are not plagiarism, but are in fact being appropriated by the artist in their own works. Plagiarism is typically defined as the theft of another’s ideas, art, etc., for the one’s own gain, and is thought to be an act of dishonesty and corruption. But many aspects of art come from preexisting artwork.  Letham lists a number of artists who have taken previous stories, themes, and ideas and incorporated into their own art, e.g. the many reoccurring themes that pervade literature. And each time one of these themes is presented, it is being remade into something unfamiliar so as to keep the art fresh. Artists are aware of this, too. This plagiarism gives rise to exceptional artwork, and that “Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void but out of chaos.”

Letham then goes on to challenge the idea of copyright and the changes being made to copyright during an era of exponential technological growth. Copyright laws are making it harder to distinguish between plagiarism and inspiration, as demonstrated by large media corporations. These laws stifle up and coming artists who feel the same mix of emotions as the artists being mimicked when they first creating their own artwork. Even pieces of admiration or satire are being buried in the business of art. But in the art world, there are ways to get around these strict copyright rules. Gift economies, commons, etc., allow artists to use some material for their own gain.

Though plagiarism and copyright are serious crimes, art exists through perpetual retelling and appropriating of different ideas, themes, and expressions.