Berkman Center for Internet & Society

Radio Berkman 135: The Quest for a Free Culture

There’s something a bit stale about the way creativity works in the old world of pre-web, copyright-happy big media. But wait, what's this? The Free Culture Movement wants to tear down some of the walls that are hindering creativity, preventing people from remixing and repurposing the culture around them to fit their needs, visions, and desires! A world where anyone can feel free to edit a photo, remix a song or video, or modify a piece of software without the constraint of excessive laws or artificial limits – sounds great, right? But it raises more questions than you might think. Gabriella Coleman is an Assistant Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University who has given a lot of thought to the role of genre and piracy in how we might build a Free Culture that works. She sat down with our guest host Elizabeth Stark for a word or two on some of the toughest questions facing Free Culture.

Produced 28 Oct 2009