Hydra, Blacked Out →
SOPA/PIPA imperil the the type of syncretic and cross-fertilized creative expressions that we find most inspiring. Such as: the art that has flourished through the new media of Youtube, Google Streetview. Such as: cross-border musical flows. Can you imagine Worldtown without the World Wide Web? Without online mixtapes, the international blogosphere, or soundcloud? The anti-circumvention provisions before Congress would hobble the efforts of international activists to evade internet censorship, surveillance, and persecution, further isolating us from the dissident artists residing under repressive regimes that are well-beloved by our editorial staff. These laws would impose an untenable drag on parody, remix, assemblage, homage, détournement, cover/fan art and (horror of horror) the proliferation of memes. Which is to say – if and when the Revolution comes, we will stand with Cheezburger.
