Well, Lucas was inspired by "The Hidden Fortress" and Samurai in general when it came to "Star Wars". 
Cultural Thievery
- Thread starter The Wooster
- Start date
The strip in of itself is funny. The issue it's based on is kind of pathetic in that people are taking it seriously, and in doing so missing the entire point.
For the most part China is in trouble for violating current patents and copyrights on products and inventions. Things like taking the pattern for Levis, copyrighted to the inventing company, producing their own, putting a patch on them saying "Levis" and then passing them off on the real thing. Or taking drugs like Viagra, analyzing the formula, and then producing their own version and undercutting the producing company, after never having to have invested the money to develop it to begin with.
In this case it seems doubtful there was any kind of patent or copyright present on the "discovered" painting if it is genuine to begin with, as if there was, it would have come up long before now.
What's more when it comes to artistic/intellectual properties there is a distinction between a homage, or taking inspiration from something, and copying it and stealing someone's work. This is a fine line, and goes back and forth when it comes up legally. The issue with China has largely been a refusal to even acknowlege the accusations, in specific cases where they have been accused of IP theft it's debatable as to whether they would win or not, it
depends on the specific case in question. The bottom line is that even if China DID win some cases, it would overall take a bath, and it knows this. Truthfully the IP issues are a drop in the bucket compared to their patent violations for things like Viagra, and product counterfeiting, it's just a similar kind of issue so it tends to get lumped together.
When it comes to Japanese and American culture, to say that it's incestuous would be an understatement. To be honest the US pretty much invented modern Japan, pretty much everything you see there now is based on things Japan took from the US. This is why Anime tends to resonate so well with a US audience. When you look at things like "The Hidden Fortress" and the like you'll find "early" Japanese films were themselves inspired by American ones. What's more you'll also notice that in the cases where a basic plot structure IS taken from a Japanese film it's both generally acknowleged, and at the same time differant enough where if an issue was made it's doubtful a case against it would stand, if someone was to ever bring the accusation.
There is also the issue in many cases of public domain when it comes to IPs, if you check the list you'll find a lot of what used to be pop culture at the turn of the 20th century (like the Fu Manchu stories) are not in the public domain, and things like mythology definatly are. Still, I would find it utterly hilarious if someone was to find a picture of Marvel's version of Thor with "ancient" origins given some of the flak he's gotten for not looking like the mythological version (especially from people who don't "get it" and understand the whole origin story, or even know who Doctor Donald Blake is/was).
For the most part China is in trouble for violating current patents and copyrights on products and inventions. Things like taking the pattern for Levis, copyrighted to the inventing company, producing their own, putting a patch on them saying "Levis" and then passing them off on the real thing. Or taking drugs like Viagra, analyzing the formula, and then producing their own version and undercutting the producing company, after never having to have invested the money to develop it to begin with.
In this case it seems doubtful there was any kind of patent or copyright present on the "discovered" painting if it is genuine to begin with, as if there was, it would have come up long before now.
What's more when it comes to artistic/intellectual properties there is a distinction between a homage, or taking inspiration from something, and copying it and stealing someone's work. This is a fine line, and goes back and forth when it comes up legally. The issue with China has largely been a refusal to even acknowlege the accusations, in specific cases where they have been accused of IP theft it's debatable as to whether they would win or not, it
depends on the specific case in question. The bottom line is that even if China DID win some cases, it would overall take a bath, and it knows this. Truthfully the IP issues are a drop in the bucket compared to their patent violations for things like Viagra, and product counterfeiting, it's just a similar kind of issue so it tends to get lumped together.
When it comes to Japanese and American culture, to say that it's incestuous would be an understatement. To be honest the US pretty much invented modern Japan, pretty much everything you see there now is based on things Japan took from the US. This is why Anime tends to resonate so well with a US audience. When you look at things like "The Hidden Fortress" and the like you'll find "early" Japanese films were themselves inspired by American ones. What's more you'll also notice that in the cases where a basic plot structure IS taken from a Japanese film it's both generally acknowleged, and at the same time differant enough where if an issue was made it's doubtful a case against it would stand, if someone was to ever bring the accusation.
There is also the issue in many cases of public domain when it comes to IPs, if you check the list you'll find a lot of what used to be pop culture at the turn of the 20th century (like the Fu Manchu stories) are not in the public domain, and things like mythology definatly are. Still, I would find it utterly hilarious if someone was to find a picture of Marvel's version of Thor with "ancient" origins given some of the flak he's gotten for not looking like the mythological version (especially from people who don't "get it" and understand the whole origin story, or even know who Doctor Donald Blake is/was).
This.Eternal_Lament said:
The '1957' painting is an obvious fake. If it had merely shown some similarities to Giger's original work I might have been convinced that he took inspiration from it, but the painting is a straight sketch, not even of Giger's original alien, but of the slightly reworked design seen in Aliens, and Giger didn't even work on the second film.
It is impressive how they copied the japanese art style, but arent't they shooting their point in the foot if it's based on a "story" from China?ciancon said:
Because the fact that Thor is literally a mythological character from Norse mythology wasn't enough.
This would be more interesting if it wasn't for the fact that stories and ideas are based on anything a culture experiences. Cultural thief means less when you realize that you steal from your own culture just as often. Foreign experiences and modern experiences and historical myth and history are all a big slush that people draw from.
This would be more interesting if it wasn't for the fact that stories and ideas are based on anything a culture experiences. Cultural thief means less when you realize that you steal from your own culture just as often. Foreign experiences and modern experiences and historical myth and history are all a big slush that people draw from.
I'm kinda convinced it's a hoax. Looking at the painting they really look more like the Cameron Film versions more than they do Giger's artwork.canadamus_prime said:
The funniest thing about the Chinese Xenomorph painting is that the Xenomorphs they depict look more like the ones from Aliens, not Alien. They're saying not only did a Chinese artist invent the Xenomorphs but he also channeled the designs that they would be modified to 20 years later? You should really do your homework better when trying to rip something off and calling the rip off the original.
And the guy claiming this painting to be the inspiration that he found at a flea market is acting like a huge Xenomorph Headsaintdane05 said:
It's hard to be influenced by one and not the other, since there was a huge back-and-forth between old American westerns and Japanese samurai movies.2xDouble said:
Nice art for the comic this week.
*looks at linked article*
Yeah, no I think it's a hoax. The paint that is shown in the article looks less like the original alien and more like the later renditions of the creature. There is only one way to explain it...
*looks at linked article*
Yeah, no I think it's a hoax. The paint that is shown in the article looks less like the original alien and more like the later renditions of the creature. There is only one way to explain it...