I heard something new recently – Ghetto blogging. According to Richa Singh, who spoke of the concept, ghetto blogging is too much of the same content, style, and ideas across blogging, when every other blogger is doing the same content style, like a ghetto.
Which got me to thinking: this is a problem that is common across blogs {and the internet}, yes, but also with ideas.
Like the formulaic cinema of the ‘80s and ‘90s – that was the terrible era of Govinda and David Dhawan, when every movie was titled similarly (Hero No 1, Aunty No 1) and followed the same formula. Govinda was the No. 1 bumbling idiot and almost every dialogue was filled with double-entendres. More recently, Bang Bang was “inspired” by Knight and Day and Partner was a direct rip-off of Hitch. The originals in both cases were infinitely better movies, at least in my opinion! And the rip-off was immediately clear if you had seen the original English movies.
But then there is what I call a cross-pollination of ideas, which is a very good thing! It gives us variety and beautiful art, and many facets of creativity. It helps us to find things and concepts that resonate better with us, and are distinct enough that the “originator” of the idea will not be disheartened that so many other people took their core idea and changed and adapted it in a completely different way.
How do ideas cross-pollinate?
Going back to my post on ideas are viruses, I think often, the same idea might strike different people at similar {or even different} times. One or both people may take that idea forward in a slightly different manner that is unique to them. When this happens, it’s easy to distinguish them as being broadly distinct – they might share the same genesis, but the execution and final product are very different.
I’d say the many different Tarot decks represent this beautifully. You have the original Raider-Waite system, and then you have various artists using the core meanings of the card to create original artwork and decks based on the Raider-Waite system.
For example, the original Death card from the Raider-Waite tarot is rendered more colorfully and with a lightness of touch in the Universal Tarot. And the Mary El Tarot creates a completely card based on the core meaning of the Death card.
When it comes to blogging, I think there is a middle line between these two concepts.
One the one hand, ghetto blogging, which is everyone doing the same thing just because one person had an idea or post that worked. On the other is the fact that someone’s idea might spark a tangential idea, like Richa’s tweet about ghetto blogs sparked this post on ghetto ideas.
To make it clearer, let me use recipes as an example.
Let’s say, I see a recipe posted by a blogger. It looks really interesting, but I change a few things around and it turns out well. Now if I share this recipe without linking back to the original, it is a problem, don’t you agree?
But if I see that recipe, and then combine it with 2-3 other recipes and add a few more tweaks of my own, that would be a more “original” recipe, and then I can simply present it as my own {or say I combined a couple of different recipes to come up with this}.
Do you see the middle path here?
So how do you cross-pollinate an idea instead of merely copying it?
I’ll try to explain this using art as an example. There is a lot of copying, and a lot of stealing in the art world. In the words of one of the greats:
“Good artists copy. Great artists steal.” - Pablo Picasso Click To Tweet
But what does this mean?
To become a good artist, you need practice. The best way to practice technique and composition and colors, is to copy great artists or artists you admire. It gives you a sense of what works and what doesn’t, and is, I believe, one of the best ways to learn.
But this copying is personal. It is meant to be used purely as a learning tool. It is not shared publicly, and it shouldn’t be passed off as your own. Even if you make a few tweaks while copying, you should always credit the original artist if you do post it publicly.
Then comes stealing, which is where the real fun is!
Stealing is when you immerse yourself in art {or whatever you’re trying to steal here – writing, film making, design}. You look at a variety of artists and study their paintings – look at composition and color choice; examine how you react to different painting styles; figure out what you like about these artists or pieces of art, what elements would you like to incorporate in your own work; just soak it all in. Then you let all of these influences percolate in your mind, combining elements from different places, adding your own creative vision, and through this alchemical process, you’re creating something fresh and new that belongs to you. There may be traces of the original sources still visible, but it will be a unique piece that can stand on its own.
So, to sum it up:
copying = ghetto ideas; stealing = original ideas Click To TweetOh, and just in case you’re still not sure just how to steal, read this article on how not to steal someone else’s design – it works for how not to steal someone else’s art/idea/writing style –everything!
What do you think about ghetto blogging/ideas? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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That’s a great post and quite intriguing. Will give this a thought. While, I always write original posts on my random muse or thoughts, it would be great to try this one some time 🙂
Think think. This is not about original or non-original posts, as much as it is about ideas and how to keep them original, even when you’ve inspired by something you’ve seen, read or heard.
It’s interesting. I never heard of the ghetto concept and well, I still need to think about it in depth. Blatant copying is ofcourse not welcome at all but cross pollination of ideas sometimes happens unknowingly and I think that’s ok. But then again I still have to think about it.
Cross-pollinating in fact is a good thing, don’t you think so? After all, a lot of renowned book critics say that there are no more original story ideas – that authors write about the same ideas in their own unique ways. That’s not blatant copying. I’d argue that it is cross-pollination of an idea.
Stealing is original! Haha! Well I think in this day and age, it’s quite difficult not to see the same content as you do everywhere else. For me, the writer, and the writing, aka the soul, makes all the difference.
Read it again, carefully. Then you’ll see my argument for how stealing is actually “original”.
I remember Richa trying ( really hard ) to explain Mojo to us .. When some one visits say a city and blogs about it. Chances are no two people’s account would be the same. Even if one actually went there and the other one merely copied info off say Wikipedia and wrote a post. The difference is mojo .
I believe that plagiarism ( the extreme case of copying) is unethical . Inspiration ( with due credit ) drives a discussion on an idea but honesty I feel ideas standalone don’t hold much value till they are executed effectively . So copying ( without getting morals into picture ) is okay but should be done by adding one’s unique PoV or style to it : perhaps that’s what you meant by stealing .
Shinjini your posts talk to my head .. You are fast becoming the most intellectually stimulating person I know in the blogosphere .. 😉
Yes yes, you are pretty much on the right track here Chandni! Plagiarism is 100% unethical – there are no two ways about that. Copying is simply copying (I gave an example of how artists copy to learn, but famous writers like Hemmingway also copied the work of other writers to learn how to improve their writing). Stealing is when you soak in the influences (or ideas) and mix them with your own POV and style to come up with something that is uniquely yours!
I personally prefer writing about offbeat topics. And if I have a dull plot, spinning around the point of view makes for an interesting read!
But yes, the ghetto blogging gets too crowded and irritating, and then sometimes I end up reading none of the posts which have the same ideas!
Yes, ghetto blogging does get really old, really fast!! Offbeat ideas are fun to work on. And writing things from your experiences and learning, even more so!
Hmm..Ghetto blogging..new concept. Agree with you that there is a difference in copying and getting inspired. Just copying somebody or any idea is wrong but getting inspired is not that wrong ..good one 🙂
Yes Deepa! Inspiration after all is everywhere. And no one can say that their writing has never been inspired by something (or even someone, sometimes!). The key is in how you execute it. 🙂
Really interesting post. Good to know about ghetto and cross pollination of ideas. I was once wondering upon the same thing. It’s all about inspiration. 🙂
Yep, it is! And how you act upon that inspiration! 🙂
Yes, it is! And how you act on said inspiration 🙂
I loved your take on Copying and stealing. I have been inspired by so many artists and so many works available on Pinterest. Sometimes when I try to mix and match their ideas with mine, I feel this guilt that technically it’s not an original idea. But then art itself is inspired by something or other. Be it the patterns of a flower petal or the splash of colors in the sky. An amalgamation of all these ideas form art. I totally agree that copying to learn a new technique is good. That’s how we learn. That’s why there are so many tutorials out there. Loved reading this post.
Yes! Tutorials and copying along with them helps you learn. And mixing and matching various techniques and ideas and doing it in your own style is how you soar as an artist! Technically, most people say that there is no “original” art – all of us are using a common set of techniques – the way we express them, that’s unique! 🙂
I hope you got my prev comment… can’t see it here 🙁 🙁
Yes, got it! Loved it. Thank you 🙂
Blogging lessons but an interesting take on it. sometimes just a conversation gives you an idea that you can develop on. I would try to refrain from copying though. Stealing and kicking in your creative thinking to create one of your own is better than copying.
Like I said – copying is a good way to learn. But that is done in private – it’s never put online. Maybe I should do a post on copying among writers and how try use it to hone their craft! Now that’s a thought. Look out for it soon! 🙂
learn about Ghetto blogging. 🙂 thumbs up & entertaining post for me enjoyed 🙂
Glad you did! 🙂
hmm..Ghetto blogging, never heard but now I am familiar with the term.
It’s something I heard for the first time last week too!
I have never heard of ghetto concept. Copying is wrong but cross pollination in terms of inspiration with due credit is fine. You made me think. Great post stimulating some creative juices this side 🙂
Yay! So happy this post got you thinking and your creative juices flowing 🙂
I saw Richa’s tweet. it’s an interesting concept. But I like what you said – an idea on a blog might spark off another idea on another one. And I think it’s fine as long as we attribute it to the original blog and then take off from there. Originality is great of course but a give and take of ideas, ‘cross pollination’ as you put it isn’t too bad either – specially if it can give birth to something original.
I think one idea sparking off a tangential idea is amazing. Like Richa’s tweet on ghetto blogging sparked this one on ideas and how they cross-pollinate, with a side linkage to copying and stealing as a way to learn and develop your style. 🙂
I’ve never heard the term, though I think there is always a danger in not writing from your heart or creating your blog in a way that speaks to what resonates with you (vs. trying to mimic a style or create something from a figurative template).
Writing from the heart is the best way to write – I sincerely believe that b
Thanks for introducing the new concept of Ghetto Blogging. Thought provokimg post !!!
Very good post and one that should and could be revisited. Love the pablo picasso quote! #mg M’wah! xoxo
Thank you so much!! :))
Ghetto blogging and cross pollination seems interesting and I know many people do that. But, I feel that nothing beats strong and genuine content which is reflection of one’s thought and personality. I have always been dead against copying someone’s work which is unethical. But, I get your drift.
I’m not advocating plagiarism you know! I’m saying copying (a technique or style) as a way of learning and honing your craft is a good thing. It’s actually how a lot of famous authors honed their craft too!
I read the tweet in which Richa mentioned about ghetto blogging! Well, I like your perspective on the same! I too feel that stealing ideas is creative in some sense (a lot of analysis, thinking, drafting etc. etc) ! 😛
Yes, bang on! It’s not simple stealing 😉
Cross-pollinating is natural for all creative people, MG. Something inspires us or sparks off an idea. I do appreciate what Richa is saying, which is why I encourage bloggers to read more and not just blogs in the same ghetto!
It is, isn’t it? What really amused me is how many people don’t want to admit it. 😉
Very thought provoking and something I had never heard of. I write whatever pops into my head and it is often quite random, I started my blog without ever having read another blog before, but I get your point here. I grew up reading so many books and it is natural that the authors I love have influenced my style, and the way I write. #mg
It’s all about influences, isn’t it? We are influenced by the things around us – it is a matter of allowing those influences to percolate within and then come out as our own unique style, or being influenced and just “copying” without giving it time to become ours. I hope that made sense!
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