Further Reading About Barbie, Sorta

Posted on 12/04/2008 at 12:43 pm by Bob Cesca

by Lee Stranahan

The issues of intellectual property rights and how corporations use government power to make money that I hinted at in my Barbie / Bratz post have been on my mind a lot lately. If you’re interested in some extra reading on those subjects, I’d like to recommend two books. The great news is that since they have both been released under Creative Commons licenses, you can download them both and read them in their entirety. Free. Right now.

Economist Dean Baker wrote a great little book called The Conservative Nanny State : How The Wealthy use The Government To Get Rich and Stay Richer that knocks the myth of conservatives wanting a free market on it’s plastic, featureless ass. Incidentally, I’m in the early stages of working on a series of short films based on this book…which is why these issues are on my mind lately.

Another really thought provoking read is Cory Doctorow’s collection of essays called Content. He talks about issues like copyright and free culture that are relevant to anyone who either makes or enjoys art in the digital age. That’s you, by the way.

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  • jmrunning3

    Thank you, Lee! I am going to read “The Coservative Nanny”. I am also going to read “Shock Doctrine” as soon as I finish Bob’s book here in the next few days.I am in the midst of Ayn Rand disciples, and much of what they like, I disagree with deeply.Thank you again for that link!

  • http://obamaproject.windonwater.net/obama-truth-watch/ QueenTiye

    I’m going to read more. This issue has frequently been on my mind, just in trying to understand how one makes money off of one’s intellectual property in the world of “open source” and “creative commons.” I feel sure that I’m misunderstanding some fundamental ideas so I’m eager to educate myself.QT

  • Lee Stranahan

    Ayn Rand disciples? Where’s that?IknI went to AR’s funeral and went to an Objectivst High School twenty-five years ago. There were two students and eight teachers.

  • Lee Stranahan

    QT,Cory talks about that – basically, you’re building an audience. It’s why I blog here and at HuffPo, for free and post my YouTube videos for free. I’ve ended up getting all kinds of work from the exposure.I’ve been doing this my erotic photography for over 15 years, too. It’s been available for free without watermarks or anything. Once again, I ended up getting published (and paid) a number of times. Like Doctorow says, the biggest issues for artists are censorship and building an audience, not your work being ‘stolen’ (ie, enjoyed by people.)One of my favorite quotes on this subject is Chuck D. from Public Enemy who doesn’t care about file sharing because “You can’t download ME.”

  • http://obamaproject.windonwater.net/obama-truth-watch/ QueenTiye

    So – its the giveaway to lead toward non-giveaways?I am going to read the stuff given, but the Chuck D analogy doesn’t entirely work for me. After all – Chuck D is a performer who can make money on performance. But what about artists who aren’t in the performing arts?Anyway – I do and don’t get it, but am grateful for the discussion.QT

  • jmrunning3

    Lee, I’m in OK. Atlas Shrugged is often cited, so I’m going to read it and see what their views are all about.I am aware of Ayn through her views on organized religion, but not her economics. Typically, what I hear around here is that infrastructure should be privatized and unless one pays taxes, one should not be allowed to vote. I disagree with privatizing infrastructure and paying to vote.What were you taught at an Objectivist HS (I was not aware one even existed)?