Mashups is another form of a media outlet that operates on web 2.0 system. Mashups allow parties to create their own version of work generated from two or more sources and share it with the public. Web applications that resemble mashup-like features have been on a rise in digital culture. The internal artistic value behind mashups exemplify why individuals gravitate towards participating in them or creating some of their own. The articles read this week regarding the subject of mashups reveal to readers why such revolutionary concept can have a lasting impact on society and our digital culture.
The very foundation of mashup technology is one of the key elements that makes it such a hazard to participate in. In Mashups: The New Breed of Web App, author Duane Merrill touches on how mashups typically involve individuals using other people’s finished work(s) to begin as a basis for their own. Obviously this can very much lead to a number of problems for the participant, including legal/copyright issues. As students we’re very familiar with the concept of plagiarism; how much different is the general makeup of mashups compared to that of plagiarizing on a written research assignment, presentation, etc? Another major issue regarding mashups revolves around Henry Jenkin’s article Taking the You Out of Youtube and mashup applications like Youtube. Youtube in specific allows individuals to upload any original content they desire, the individuals are the ones who make Youtube function. The issue behind this is the fact that millions of people are giving away free content, which is typically the on-going issues with almost any web 2.0 application. The creators of such platforms thrive on success based off of the work of others; without us as individuals displaying our (free) content none of these applications would be successful. To reiterate my point, individuals do not get benefits/paid for their videos, tweets, blog posts, etc but the corporations behind some of the huge platforms do.
The effect mashups have on media is not all negative but when thinking about the concept of web 2.0 applications and what they’re used for. Arguably it can be said that corporations are “striking gold” when they no longer have to pay others for ideas or insights, it is all there on people’s networking sites for FREE. There is no longer any need for ‘brainstorming” or physical meetings between creative teams when all they can do is simply log into any web applications and there they have the opinions of millions, all at once. Lastly, mashups also cloud individuals’ originality, basing their work off of existing craft can only lead to a biased progression of craft
