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Everything is a Remix (2023 Edition)

Kirby Ferguson · documentary · Watch on YouTube

Film analysis & criticismLaw, policing & justiceFuturism & technology and society

What it is

Kirby Ferguson's updated four-part video essay arguing that creativity is built on copying, transforming and combining existing work. It covers examples from film, music and technology and touches on generative AI.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Pointed to in copyright and AI debates as a compelling case that all culture is remix.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2023, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “It's a great video if you have an hour.”

    Documentary arguing culture is built on copying and remixing

    tsumnia, 2023-12 · Recommendation · in “Things are about to get worse for generative AI”

  2. “It highlights how essentially everything in culture is a remix of some previous version of the culture”

    Shows everything in culture is a remix of earlier work

    alexpotato, 2024-06 · Recommendation · in “Pop culture has become an oligopoly (2022)”

  3. “Kirby Ferguson's video on this is pretty great”

    Argues creativity is copying, transforming, and combining ideas

    supern0va, 2026-04 · Recommendation · in “AI assistance when contributing to the Linux kernel”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: copyright, video essay, creativity, generative ai, derivative work

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