Forgery

Text, art and design by SAMANTHA FELDMEIER and CLAIRE LI In all artistic mediums, there is a fine line between creative inspiration and intentional plagiarism for profit. Where that line is drawn and what effect it has is up for interpretation.

in Fashion

The practice of taking a piece of names began in high school, when he look identical to the original, yet at a art, fashion, or music and prorealized their value and chance for pofraction of the price. Of course, they are ducing it as your own, is contential profit. not up to the standards of the original sidered forgery and is classified as a “I am very conscious of current in quality, and little flaws in the product white-collar crime. In an attempt to trends and by doing that I can stay on are obvious giveaways to the purchase avoid these criminal charges, designers top of what items will make me money of a fake. Despite their lack of quality, and artists have found ways to slightly if I can get them right when they come counterfeits are a $450 billion industry. modify the original, usually lowering out,” Ryan said. It has been shown that While some purchase knock-offs the price and the quality process. These the popularity of a product and demand unintentionally and are left disappointlook-alikes, known as knock-offs, are for it dramatically increases by when ed, many people intentionally shop for commonly bought by mistake, leaving the brand is well known. counterfeits. This poses a danger to the buyer disappointed and unsatisfied. "I'm really not a fan of [knock-offs], large designer brands since customers are now able to get essenBut what makes the original so much better than what they reit's like cheating yourself." tially the same product elsewhere for a cheaper price. However, ceived? There is no art without the artist, meaning no matter how simjimmy ryan even with many taking advantage of this money-saving strategy, a ilar the copy looks, the originality large number of people still prefer from the artist or flash from the designWhile a simple logo may seem trivial investing in the original. In fact, Ryan er brand is still missing. to the value, many claim it is the qualdisapproves of the ‘fakes’. “Knock-offs

Jimmy Ryan, a college student from ity of material and manufacturing proI’m really not a fan of, it’s like cheating Lake Oswego, Ore., is an experienced cess that makes brand names so prized. yourself,” Ryan said. So while counterreseller who is familiar with popular Others simply like the flash of the brand feits and knock-offs should not be overbrands. His profit comes from buying and the style of the item. The popularity looked, designer brands are still profithot fashion items the second they come of certain designs and styles lead to the ing off of those with enough attention out, and reselling them for a greater production of counterfeits and knockto detail, and when it comes down to it, price. His fascination with big brand offs being made. These are designed to money.

In the world of visual art, forgery often faces controversy and scrutiny because it raises questions about in Art the essence of art. Paintings and sculptures are the hallmarks of museums, yet among monumental work there are still undetected fakes. While there is seemingly no difference to the untrained eye, many argue that the creativity, ingenuity and originality needed to compose such an original piece is the essence of art.

According to Bertil Chappuis, senior at Sacred Heart School, the difference between a painting and a replica also includes its impacts on viewers. Chappuis is fascinated by a range of artwork: from Picasso’s bold and abstract style to Morandi’s delicate and dreamlike still lifes. Many of these paintings are so unique that even the slightest difference in texture, scale or color would change it’s intended tone.“These things might seem like subtle or even trivial differences but they completely change how a painting

affects the viewer,” Chappuis said. For prove his tehcnique. this reason, he finds that replicas often According to Chappuis, replicated lack the original feel of the piece. artwork cannot be seen as a masterpiece,

Looking to many painters for inspibut it does carry benefits for consumration allowed Chappuis to reshape his ers. Replicating art has become its own approach towards industry, allowing art from one that avoids reality to "The most effective way for buyers to collect ne ar-imit at ions one that tackles it me to teach myself about of masterpieces at head-on through portraits. He also composition, color and a fraction of the price. Copying is improved technibrushwork is to spend as also an art form in cal skills simply through observamuch time as possible just itself, usually in the forms of etchings tion. “I find that observing art that appeals and block printthe most effective way for me to teach myself to me." bertil chappuis ings. “There are some art mediums that are meant to about composibe mass produced, tion, color and brushwork is to spend as and if an artist wants to reach a larger aumuch time as possible just observing art dience they should use those,” Chappuis that appeals to me,” Chappuis said. By said. Although replicas have benefits for studying other pieces of art, Chappuis consumers, the originality of artwork is has managed to find inspiration and imnear-impossible to capture.

Almost everyone has heard two tween covers and imitation is the cover’s songs that seem remarkably ability to alter the song’s tempo, pitch or similar. Sampling, or incorpochords to fit the artist’s own style. While rating parts of other music, has become covers are a way for artists to showcase popular with modern artists across all their skills, imitation provides the first genres, and is often accepted as a methstep towards developing their own style. od of reinventing old They often use hits. However, sampling and cover-making have also raised "I make covers all the time and noticing the styles of the original as a base from which to test questions about the differences between borrowing, influencmusic that my voice blends together with best has really and mix different sounds that fit their ing and stealing music. According to Elizabeth Wang, a Paly helped develop sound." my own own style. “I make covers all the time sophomore who records her own music, elizabeth wang and noticing the styles covers of popular music are often easy and of music that my voice blends together valuable ways for new artists to launch with best has really helped develop my themselves into the industry. “Covers own sound,” Wang said. are a great way to reflect and showcase Wang has always been drawn to the your voice and singing style while origcreativity and vulnerability of music, inals mainly portray your songwriting,” and sampling simply adds to the range Wang said. The distinguishing factor beof creative expression allowed. As Wang

in Music drew influences from different artists, her music has evolved from slower and softer sounds to upbeat and electropop.

However, there is still a difference between inspiration and plagiarism. “I wouldn’t really consider it ‘art’ if it’s just a straight up copy, but if you are painting a copy of an art piece and making some slight changes and incorporating your own style into it, it’s definitely art,” Wang said.

In music, sampling is often a way to add to the originality and experimentation of music, allowing music to evolve as artists from different eras build off other’s work to produce an entirely new song. With each sample, cover, or borrowing of music, there is a transformation in the original nature of the song with the potential to move music forward into new tastes. Sampling has indeed embedded itself in the music industry, and despite its close boundary with plagiarism, it carries countless benefits.