The Artistic Shame thread

[Exodus]

I'd think a basic moron could see that, when put side by side, there is evident plagiarism. I can produce blended masks of the works in question. It's just irksome to look at with it flashing at me.

Or rather, it was before you slowed the timing down. That will work.

[forks]

Ah, Internet drama.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[iconoclast]

I realize this thread is about internet artwork, but I'd like to say a word about plagiarism in writing if I may.

Some years ago, I read a book. It was set in a typical fantasy world of swords and sorcery. The main character was this humble little fellow living in a quiet village of rustic, country bumpkins. One day, the most famous wizard of the land comes to his little village and tells the little man that he must go on a quest involving a powerful magical item. The fate of the world, he is told, hangs in the balance, for if he does not succeed, evil (in the form a mysterious and dreadful Dark Lord) will reign supreme. The wizard then goes off alone to attend to some pressing matter.

Shortly thereafter, the minions of the Dark Lord arrive in the little village seeking the aforementioned magical artifact. These Dark Riders are described as inhuman monsters with magical powers. The protagonist and one of his simple villager friends narrowly escape the clutches of these riders only with the help of a dashing hero skilled in woodcraft, sword-fighting, etc., etc.

This ranger (I think that was what he was called in the book, if my memory serves) then leads the two fugitives to an elven community where they are reunited with the wizard. Once there, a plan of action is drawn up and the protagonist and his friend reluctantly agree to accompany the wizard on this quest. Joining them are the ranger, a gruff dwarven warrior who fights with an axe, an elf or two who are expert archers and I think another character or two who were too uninteresting to remember.

Everybody still with me? Ok. The band of adventurers then set off and have many thrilling encounters with monsters and with the minions of the Dark Lord. At some point, the group is seperated and the two little villagers must go on alone to face their destiny in the lands of the Dark Lord themselves. The wizard, the ranger, the dwarf and the elves, meanwhile must fight in a desperate battle against the armies of the Dark Lord who are threatening to overrun the whole world.

Sound familiar? Well it should. What I've just described is the plot of Terry Brooks' The Sword Of Shannara.

What's that you say? That's not the book you were thinking of? You say that sounds like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings?

*shouting in my best Lewis Black voice* OF COURSE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE LORD OF THE RINGS!!!

When I read The Sword of Shannara I was filled with rage. Why? Because like many Tolkien fans, I too envisioned writing a story like that. I admit it. I'm as guilty as anybody else, but...

1. I didn't have the audacity to rip off The Lord of the Rings line for line, plot point for plot point, and...

2. At some point I realized that what I was doing WAS plagiarizing one of the greatest works in the genre and that if I was going to ever continue, I would have to change it significantly. To do otherwise would have been like spitting on the grave of the genre's greatest author.

Terry Brooks, meanwhile, has gone on to become a best selling writer and has even written more books set in "his" fantasy world of Shannara.

There is no justice.

Rob, I feel your pain...

[Whisper]

Wow, I always wanted to read Terry Brooks's work, and just never got the chance. Now, I'm not so sure I want to. It's horrible that he could make so much money on something he merely copied. Plagiarism is a horrible thing and people who do it should not get credit for it like this man did. It's not right by any means. People work hard on their pieces, whether it be art or reading, and the fact that some people have the audacity to steal it is astounding. I highly support what you all are doing here.

[congolike]

I post multiple versions of the same image
But as long as people like it, i'll continue to do so

[RobM]

Originally Posted by congolike

I post multiple versions of the same image
But as long as people like it, i'll continue to do so

Yah, but you don't post them a week apart and claim they're "Totally different" images and quibble that "It didn't take me two minutes, it took me almost TEN actually!"

[_cf]

This thread is hilarious. Please continue to point the lack of shame going around, Rob

[Curare]

Originally Posted by _cf

This thread is hilarious. Please continue to point the lack of shame going around, Rob

I just cant see how this thread is hilarious, cause quite often I myself also see plagerised material and not only is it annoying, it is also a large sign that spells dishonesty, especially if the plagerising author (or artist) recieves credit for work that is not of his/her own, so being said this is quite a serious topic, nothing funny about it.

Originally Posted by welt

I just cant see how this thread is hilarious, cause quite often I myself also see plagerised material and not only is it annoying, it is also a large sign that spells dishonesty, especially if the plagerising author (or artist) recieves credit for work that is not of his/her own, so being said this is quite a serious topic, nothing funny about it.

It's hilarious because of how sad it is.

[QueenTutankhamun]

Couldn't you just post the copied art and the copying art next to each other for each artist? That would be easier to see and to really appreciate how they are similar. I tjink this thread is a good idea.