For use with devozine meditations for January 1–8, 2012. Print-Friendly Version
MAKING THE CONNECTION
“The digital age has completely changed many issues related to copyright. As a musician, occasional filmmaker, and writer, I know what it’s like to be on both ends of the copying cycle. Yet as a researcher and teacher of multimedia, I also know that copyright law is complex and forever changing. For me, the critical issue for young people is to be thoughtful about how they act. Pirating is not OK just because everyone else is doing it.” —Craig
MEET THE WRITER
Craig Mitchell creates and teaches multimedia as part of his ministry with the Uniting Church in Australia as well as for fun. He loves playing with digital music, video, images, and other stuff in his “studio” (which sounds much cooler than “home office”).
STUFF YOU WILL NEED
- copies of the checklist for “Checking In”
- pens
- a computer with Internet access
- verses from Psalm 25 printed on separate sheets of paper (see “Exploring the Word”)
NOTE: Because devozine is used in a number of countries around the world and copyright laws differ from country to country, we cannot be definitive about copyright law in this session. You may wish to find out more about copyright in your country:
PLUGGED IN
+ What is copyright? “A Fair(y) Use Tale” gives a brilliant explanation using clips from Disney films.
+ Award-winning filmmaker and writer Michael Moore offers his opinion about copyright law.
+ Creative Commons is a global initiative that allows people to share their original work while retaining control over how it may be used.
+ The video “When Copyright Goes Bad” is worth viewing if you want to think about some of the issues involved.
+ Consumers International offers information on copyright-related matters.
+ For some cool mashups, check out these YouTube videos:
CHECKING IN
Distribute pens and copies of the checklist below. Explain that the questionnaire will not be seen by anyone else, so people can feel free to answer honestly.
Have you ever . . .
☐ copied an image from the Internet for a school project?
☐ copied music from a CD onto your computer?
☐ recorded a TV show to watch at a later time?
☐ used in an essay a quote from another source without acknowledging it?
☐ made a copy of a DVD or CD?
☐ played music in public without the permission of the writer?
☐ borrowed a computer game from a friend and copied it onto your computer?
☐ downloaded a movie illegally?
☐ photocopied music without the permission of the publisher?
☐ downloaded a video from YouTube?
☐ made a mashup or remix of music or videos?
☐ made ringtones for your phone from recorded songs?
Explain that copyright infringement, sometimes called piracy, is a complex issue. In a digital world, it is part of our everyday lives and quite difficult to avoid. The law is constantly changing to catch up with consumer behavior that is not considered to be criminal in intent, such as making a home recording of a TV show to watch at a later time. Assure people that the purpose of this session is not to make them feel guilty but to explore what responsible and irresponsible behavior might mean for Christians.
EXPLORING THE WORD
Scripture: Psalm 25:4–18, 20–21 (separated into sets of verses as outlined below)
If you have a computer with Internet access, invite the group to watch a YouTube mashup (see “Plugged In” for suggestions or search “mashup” on YouTube). Be sure to preview the video first.
Invite people to play Speed Debate. Ask the participants to choose partners and to form two concentric circles, with partners facing each other. Read the first statement below. Allow one minute for the partners to discuss whether they agree or disagree with the statement. Then ask the outside circle to rotate in one direction so that each person faces a new partner. Read the second statement; invite people to discuss it and then to rotate partners. Continue this process until all statements have been debated.
- Making a copy of something you have purchased for your personal use should be legal.
- Lending and copying music encourages more people to become fans and to buy more music.
- If people copy something that they couldn’t afford to buy, they’re not depriving anyone of income.
- Being able to copy and use other people’s music or images encourages creativity.
- Copyright law is more about protecting big businesses than protecting artists or consumers.
- People break copyright laws all the time because computers and the Internet are designed for sharing information.
- People who create something should decide if and how their work is protected.
Bring the group together to discuss these questions:
In what ways is copyright good for our society?
In what ways is copyright not helpful for our society?
What are the main ways that copyright issues affect you and other young people you know?
Why do people copy material so readily, without thinking about who may be affected by their actions?
Has your Christian faith influenced your decisions about copying or sharing products and information?
What are you willing to copy? What are you not willing to copy?
Before the session, print on a separate sheet of paper each of these sets of verses from Psalm 25: verses 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–18, and 20–21.
Give each person a set of verses from the psalm. Invite people to spend some time in silence, reflecting on how their assigned verses relate to copyright issues. Next, ask people to write a question that the verses raise for them and to reflect silently on that question. Then invite people to write a prayer based on their response to the question.
SHARING IN PRAYER
Invite people to form a circle. Ask the members of the group to read the verses of the psalm in order. Invite each person to read his or her question and prayer.
Explain that the members of John Wesley’s covenant discipleship groups agreed to be accountable to one another for the ways they lived their Christian faith. Invite people to discuss these questions:
What would being accountable to one another mean in relationship to copyright issues?
How will you hold one another accountable for living out in the days ahead the prayers you have written and spoken?
Close the session by saying: “The Bible is the most-copied book in human history. Prayer is one of the faith practices that we learn by copying. Let us learn to copy the acts of faith so that we might gain the wisdom to make choices that respect God and other people.”
Invite people to copy you by saying The Lord’s Prayer after you, phrase by phrase.
TAKING IT FURTHER
These are important issues in our society. As a leader, be aware of copyright issues and how they affect the lives of young people. Begin to think how the digital media revolution is changing our world and how you can set an example of responsible faith in a changing world.
- This video of Henry Jenkins, MIT professor and author of “Convergence Culture,” is a good place to start.
- The series “The Virtual Revolution” by the BBC is also well worth watching. Check out the introduction.
