How is plagiarism visually represented? What do such representations look like? What do they do? And whom do they affect? In this project, I explore—and provide possible answers to— these questions by remixing popular representations of plagiarism. This work presents one possible activist intervention that teachers can take when they talk about the culturally burdened concept of plagiarism: I choose to play with plagiarism and I invite others to do the same.
If we believe plagiarism is serious, then we should take seriously the task of teaching it, questioning it, and responding to it. I say we welcome play and let go of fear.
A virus! A demon! A student plagiarist!
Following (counter)public sphere theorist Michael Warner, I believe circulation itself can be a powerful vehicle for change. Although my audience for this video is quite targeted (i.e. writing teachers), I believe that the essence of this argument needs to be circulated among a wider audience. To encourage further circulation of the problems with plagiarism discourse, I also offer a plagiarism remix without my extended commentary. As Erin Dietel-McLaughlin would have it, this remix represents an "irreverent composition" that challenges "institutionalized, dominant forms of discourse." My hope is that this remix gains a life of its own—that it gets picked up, spread, and remixed further.
Dustin Edwards is a doctoral student at Miami University who studies the intersections of authorship, digital rhetoric, and writing pedagogy. He remembers once asking his dad, after listening to the radio on a long drive, if such a thing as "originality" is ever really possible. He’s been wondering the same thing ever since.
This transformative and critical work constitutes a fair use of any copyrighted material under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976. It samples and remixes small portions of media in an effort to provide commentary and critique.
Videos Remixed
Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism. 2012. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Arthur: P is for "Plagiarism". 2012. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
A Quick Guide to Plagiarism. 2009. YouTube. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
Diagnosis: Plagiarism. 2010. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Funny But Teaches About Plagiarism. 2012. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Funny Classic Informative Plagiarism Video. 2010. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Grammar Bytes! Presents: Plagiarism: Avoid Academic Theft for Research Success. 2012. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Plagiarism: Pernicious Plague or Preventable Pest? 2009. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Plagiarism: Your Writing, Not Someone Else's. 2008. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
What Is Plagiarism? (Part 1 of 3). 2007. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
What Is Plagiarism? (Part 1 of 3). 2007. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Plagiarism Rap. 2012. YouTube. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.