My Oldest Friend

Reading is, understandably, a source of comfort for people of all ages. And what adds to that comfort? Perhaps the fact that all forms of art - from visuals to films to poetry to literature, etc. - tend to mimic and derive from one another. Now, I'm not trashing anyone's writing style (okay, maybe I was a bit snarky with my last post...sorry, Mrs. Meyer?), but it's easier to create works after they've been written and rewritten thousands of times. Regardless of whether or not an author has read a novel before or a screenwriter has watched a film prior to actually sitting down and creating their own, somewhat original work, it seems as if all of these works follow an equation of sorts. And of course, we've seen it in our own English studies: 

.....and we have a plot, ladies and gentleman. Yet, that's not the point. Plot is easy to structure, and easier to mimic, as mentioned in the fourth chapter of How to Read Literature like a Professor, "Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?." Film, song, and literature have proved that throughout time. 

There are 12 unique notes in music and many, many other unique chords that could be produced by augmenting or diminishing any given note in a chord. So with this information, you would think that musicians would produce their own individualized sounds and rhythms. However, this isn't exactly the case because especially in popular music, chord patterns tend to resemble one another, give or take a few minor chords and different keys. One example that took place relatively recently was the melodic similarities between Madonna's "Express Yourself" and Lady Gaga's "Born this Way." It didn't help that both songs were anthems of self-love and acceptance. After giving both a listen, you realize that there are some similarities between the two, and it does raise questions of how many of them were pure coincidence and also a few shady comments as well ("It feels reductive...look it up."). But now, let's look at both sides of the argument at hand. Let's say that the "copier" revamps a old melody and incorporates it into a new song. Is that being "reductive" or being inspired? Or, let's say that the "copier" has no recollection of the older melody. Shouldn't the original song be so innovative that it doesn't risk the chance of being copied? 

Also, how many times have we seen the same plot? It seems like every time travel movie ever made either resembles Back to the Future or is a copy like it is. And it starts off with some young man in Anytown, USA, finding a time travel machine or device and using it for innocent curiosity at first. Later on, said young man tries to change whatever is wrong with the world or his own personal past, and like always, something goes wrong and he HAS to fix it or the entire history of anything ever has to saved before the world is gone forever. Of course, though, the story always works itself out. Hollywood has a thing for happy endings, right? Or how many times have we seen unrequited love? How many times have we read about the guy or gal falling in love with the best friend? How about the deemed "nerd" who gets the makeover and their supposed "one true love?" These scenarios have incorporated themselves into so many different forms of media that it's astounding. But again, it's comforting knowing how things are bound to turn out, give or take a few plot twists here and there. 

This brings me to the conclusion that literature, music, and film all follow their own sort of cultural diffusion. Similarly to the "melting pot" that America should be, plots all take place in the same world. They all base off of one another and influence each other and once you think about that, it's kind of inspiring. Maybe nothing is original anymore (or nothing was ever "original" to begin with) but does that change our enjoyment and entertainment? It doesn't. Perhaps it's a bit simpleminded but maybe this diffusion is a good thing. Sure, new ideas are always appreciated, but so are old ones and past events as well. We're inspired by things we find captivating and beautiful, so why not express that with a recreation? 

Something to think about: http://www.businessinsider.com/nothing-we-do-is-original-anymore-so-find-things-worth-imitating-2012-8