Allie Fenlon First Blog: Originality

The documentary shown in class the other day made me think about what originality is. It proved that no one and nothing is ever fully original, which is mind-boggling. Even this post is a spinoff of the video. All of the great theorists, inventors, scientists, artists, authors, despite seeming original, were all creating their work branching off of other people in their field that came before them, whether they were aware of it or not. This made me think about my childhood and just overall everything that I have done and if that was original or not. All of my extracurriculars as a child, I participated in because my brother did them previously, except for dance. Then I realized that there is an expectation for all young girls to dance as a child which brought me back to being unoriginal. I then examined my high school accomplishments, which differed greatly from my brother’s high school career, generally making me excited thinking I was being original. Amid my excitement, I realized that I followed in the footsteps of my peers. Just because I had not made a creative club and I followed some of my friends that I had looked up to rather than my family. This, again, dulled my enthusiasm on the subject which sent me spiraling. Am I really not unique? Am I unoriginal and, plainly said, basic?

I then came to ponder another central idea of the video: everything is a remix. I then had an idea that may have been touched in the video. I realized that even though the ideas may not be original, they are separate ideas that have never been thought of together or created in such a way that made them original. The other message of the video rang true. The originality is in the interpretation of the ideas of others and the ways they are used to progress other's ideas. This, again, made me look back on my life. I am original. Throughout my childhood, kindergarten through eighth grade, I participated in eleven different organized sports and activities. In my opinion, even if my brother participated in some of those activities, I did them in different forms and at different difficulties making my childhood unique. My high school years are where I noticed massive differences between my brother and my experiences. I was in around four clubs, was a two-season athlete, was the captain of one of the teams for two years, and more. Even if someone else did one or more of these activities in the past, I had realized that my experience was truly original. No one else has experienced what I have. No one else has the same opinions and the same voice. Even though I am a product of others, like my parents, my brother, and all of my other role models throughout my life, I, along with everyone else, am truly original. This realization made me feel a sense of relief that I, was once again, am unique as I thought before, and all of my favorite creators, artists, inventors and more have created original works by mashing together other people’s ideas.