THE Death of Originality

When was the last time you watched a show, movie or heard a song that was an entirely original concept? Think about this question seriously. The entertainment industries have amassed a catalog of copyrighted material that can be produced repeatedly. Chances are your favorite film, TV show or song is a regurgitation of another idea. This is not to say that entertainers don’t deserve praise. But where is the innovation? It used to be that Hollywood was looking for the next big thing. Something original with earning potential. But something happened in the last few decades. Studios started going over budget on producing really bad ideas.

The Television and Film industries spent millions on original concepts, only to have them panned by viewers and critics. These gambles by the entertainment industry were losing bets. We can all think of at least one TV show or film that we watched only to be disappointed that we wasted time and money on. Through trial and era, Studio Executives have learned the era of the ways and transitioned from originality to safer bets.

In the last two decade the most successful summer movies were based on ideas that were already mainstream. As sales of comic books began to dwindle, we started to see our favorite superheroes make the leap from the page to the big screen. Movies based on superheroes have become so lucrative that the companies that started out making comics have moved on to film production. We used to be moved by a good story and decent character portrayal. Those aspects of what we see on the big screen take the back seat to special effects. We are wowed by illusions and little depth as we fork over our cash to see the flavor of the day play our favorite hero or villain.

The movie industry has created a formula for success. Take an idea made popular by young people (Cartoons, Comics or Books written for young readers) and turn it into movie. Once the idea is milked dry, give it time to cool off, then bring it back a few years later. Every time an old idea is re-visited its updated to appeal to younger viewers. Concepts for our favorite movies are as old as the studios that produce them. These ideas are re-packaged and re-sold every few decades to appeal to a new generation of viewers.

The music industry has also found its niche. Music executives know that new artists have a short shelf life. So they look for new acts and sign them in numbers. Every notice how newer artists seem to arrive in dozens? So begins the process of elimination in which only time will tell who has longevity. Who’ll get addicted to drugs and burn out? Who’ll realize what the music industry is really about and opt to go back to their roots, playing smaller venues for the sake of having more control over what they create? Who’ll give the industry the middle finger in true rock star fashion only to be marginalized later? There are only a few paths these artist can take to stay viable. They must adhere to what their bosses want produced and not what they’re fans want to hear. So its either play ball or head for the showers.