[Rumori] U B U W E B ::

[Jon Leidecker]

>Well, our policy on UbuWeb is that if it's out of print, it's fair game
>for us to post.

I've been thinking a lot about this recently, as mp3-sharing seems to be
expanding past generic file-sharing systems and into actual fixed website
locations, with distinct curatorial identities.

I'm hugely grateful to ubuweb and think Kenneth's principles are strong &
rare.  He's not profiting from this distribution of other's work & he's
actively making sure that what he's offering isn't otherwise available,
taking down things when new editions arrive.  But I can also see why it's a
bit of a shock, especially for the older generation, to see the issue of
who 'publishes' their work become something that they don't necessarily
have anything to do with;  now that publishing is available to anyone with
a server,  and the creator's vote isn't blocking anything, the creator's
been bypassed.

Conrad & Austin probably have plans to reissue their 60's pieces
themselves, and when they do, one of the main selling points is going to be
'long since unavailable works'.  That's being undermined by file-sharing.
But I think this is something creators are going to have to get used to;
in the past, especially in the arts, value was created precisely through
the enforcement of scarcity.  And 'scarcity' is more of an artificial
construct than ever before.  With the internet, artists aren't going to
have the option of a 'limited edition' anymore, nor the option of not
having an edition for sale without others jumping in to sell it or give it
away.  _Their work is going to be available, with or without their
participation._

I kind of like the idea of a limited edition as an integral aspect of the
work itself;  'this is for a limited audience, you already know who you
are, the casually interested need not bother'.  It's not necessarily
elitist, some works simply have small audiences and you want to signify
that.  But there won't be a way to do this physically in the future
anymore, anyone who wants it will have it.

Which ultimately is good, once the work is done I know it belongs to
everyone, not just the artist anymore.  But,  _this is unprecedented_ and
something for an artist to get used to.  It's a huge shame Larry Austin's
made it impossible for anyone to hear his amazing piece 'Caritas' because
it's the best thing I've ever heard by him.  But I sympathize with his
culture shock.

I had many of the same feelings when Steev put the Mystery Tapes online;  I
think Oswald had a reason for keeping them unavailable.  But I don't judge
Steev's decision, the Tapes are now bigger than Oswald.  Furthermore,
Lloyd's cassette transfer has glitches and errors, and is incomplete;
there are two crucial tapes missing from the set.  Oswald's got the
originals and I hope he'll provide an edition someday, even if it
countermands part of the aim of the project itself.

Rick, I know the topic of 'enforced scarcity' has come up a lot on the
lecture circuit, if you have anything to add on the impact of this on the
archivist's livelihood, I'd love to hear it.

And in the meantime, www.basichip.com -- this week's download:  Mort
Garson's incredible 'Black Mass Lucifer'.  I just received the CDR
containing two of Mort's other albums that the site is selling, because I
wanted the music badly;  all I can do is promise to buy the official issue
again whenever the labels get around to putting them out.

it's scary how much more I could type on this subject given recent
adventures but it's time for dinner

jl