Plagiarism and Pastiche discussion

A lot of posts relate to someone or other having lines stolen from their poems and used elsewhere.

It got me thinking: surely, in this Postmodern age where parody and pastiche crops up in most works of art/literature/songs - what exactly is the problem? The whole poem has not been lifted, just worked upon and expanded to form a parallel in an effort to be more artistic. I would be flattered, not annoyed, if this happened to my shitty poetry.

What's your opinions on this. Is it plagiarism or just being postmodern.

What's pastiche?

I would say blatantly stealing someone's poem is plagairism. Taking a couple of lines wojuld still be classed at plagairisn but not to such an extreme.

I think the concern is with blatant plagairism, pastiche is common where some words are the same.

Kim:

Pastiche: Ok. Example: The first 'Star Wars' film uses a space ship attack scene (driven by Luke Warmwater). The exact scene, even the dialogue, is lifted from, I think it was 'The Dam Busters' film. A film 25 years prior to that. Correct me if I have the wrong film. What this gives the film is open to discussion.

Another example, is songs that lift a guitar riff and adds different lyrics and title. Fuse them together and the whole result changes - even with a sense of irony.

I've seen examples in poetry and prose.

I was listening to a song by Game where he said his pen bleeds which inspired my poem Life's Play....did I plagerize? I don't think so. One can be inspired by words or a whole poem. If the poem isn't copied why would anyone care? I've took titles from other poems and then wrote poems from it...is that plagerizing? I didn't copy their poem just inspired by the title. I personally don't think there is anything wrong with it.

Now you all are talking about WHOLE stanzas....I wasn't talking about WHOLE stanzas but more just ONE line or a couple of words that triggers something in your mind...you're getting a little nutty in here. One stanza can INSPIRE one to write something similar or totally different but for them to take it and incorporate that in to THEIR poem is wrong.

Personally, i could give less if the reason for the so-called "author" to use a stanza/line from my own poetry was to "improve" on it. The meaning would be lost inside someone else's story and i'd find that disrespectful on my half. But if the author acknowledged me beforehand and asked for my persmission to quote my poem as inspiration for their work, then no, i wouldn't feel as wronged.

As someone else said, some may be flattered, but i would feel annoyed.

It's all plagiarism to me.

Then again...here's a question: I've seen the same exact words used over and over in many poems...even movies, songs, and average dialogue around the world. But in the English language, these words are "I love you". Is everybody just plagiarizing each other or is this something that everyone picked up on?

Peaces.

Commonly used phrases...that's all it is. That's not plagerizing regardless of what the source for one's inspiration. If you said "til death do us part" in one of your poems and it was the first time I ever heard that should I be expected to quote your poem as my source of inspiration? I don't think so. I heard Game say "my pen bleeds" and I used that in my poem...did I plagerize? No! Of course I used that in my poem but not in the same context or anything. I don't feel as though I plagerized and should be expected to quote his name and song....should I?

I hate that. My pen bleeds has been written a million times...why quote where I heard it from. I do understand what you are saying I just don't knwo why it's necessary...it could be something I even just thought of on my own. I hate all these writing rules. I know not to plagerize someone's writing but being so limited in what I can put without "quotations" is really ridiculous to me. When I write I love you should I quote that too. A few of my poems have been inspired by over hearing people talk...one lady in a grocery store and family members...should I be quoting them as well...I mean when do you draw a line...how do you know what to quote and what not to quote.

I would be flattered as well...although i would deep down be a little pissed of after all i work really hard on my poetry and people who dont have enough talent or just plain writers block shouldnt copy other peoples words and use them as their own...although you could use them for inspiration or something...

People are just stupid and uncreative. Because you are blessed with this gift, you are above their cheating ways. So don't worry about the idiotic peons...

-- Maharani of Angels