by Jon Lackman | 16 April 2007 | Uncategorized
In CAA Reviews, Christine Kuan discusses Susan M. Bielstein’s Permissions, A Survival Guide: Blunt Talk about Art as Intellectual Property: “In today’s litigious ownership society, there are more visual arts permissions hurdles than ever before for both publishing and artistic expression … Intellectual discourse and artistic practice can be severely handicapped by these factors, and could eventually encompass little more than the traditional set of renowned cultural icons. If we had ever thought intellectual property issues were solely the concern of lawyers and corporations, we realize now that in the world of new media visual art vies for its growth and very existence among copyright-wielding (and copyright-asserting) giants. Intellectual property laws have significantly impacted, and will continue to impact, our cultural life in terms of creative expression and intellectual inquiry … Creative freedom and cultural discourse are increasingly hampered by copyright issues and cultural habits: “the ritual of asking—and granting and withholding—permission has become so deeply embedded in our ‘cyber-psyche’” … I highly recommend this book to anyone working with visual material. The Guide offers much-needed, valuable insight on a critical but convoluted and vexed subject. It is concise, engaging, and digestible.”
