Part 1: Appropriation as a film making technique

Appropriation is drawing influence from different backgrounds and cultures and then referencing them in your project be it visual, audio or literary. Appropriation is often used in film, it is a device that is used to make reference to something else be it another film, book, TV show or Artwork. Most use it to pay homage to other artists.

This is also used to place the piece of art in a specific place and time by its cultural reference. 

Examples of Appropriation can be seen all around us in the art world, it is used in wide range of created pieces from the thrash metal band Anthrax having a song called "I am The Law" a popular catchphrase from the 2000ad comics character Judge Dredd, 

upon closer inspection to the song's lyrics it describes the origins behind Dredd and the story arcs from the comics which was rise to new highs of popularity in the late 80's, Therefore using this as the basis of a song immediately places that song in the late 80's. Appropriation is also used as the comedy structure to popular TV show Family Guy.

When it is used in film it is slightly more noticeable to some as it is a visual reference, this is mainly used to pay homage to film makers that came before, a popular example of this is Quentin Tarantino. His use of appropriation is used to show what influences him, he makes you pay attention to what inspired him. Examples of this can be seen in Pulp Fiction from just the movie poster itself it looks like a 50's American Pulp book cover. These books would often have tales of love, action and suspense. The dance contest scene can also be a reference to the Jean-Luc Godard film band a part dance scene, therefore referencing new wave cinema. 

There is a film genre that directly uses appropriation and that is the Comic Book Film. They have no choice but to use as many references from the comic series as possible which most do successfully, personally in my own opinion the best adaptation of a comic book to film was V for Vendetta, not only did the characters looked like the ones in the book but they also enraptured the feel of an alternate universe to our own which was something that was the main idea within the pages of the book. 

The reason why i chose to look at appropriation is that over the years we have developed a culture in film, TV and even music called "Geek Culture" this i feel to be an area of interest. this "Geek Culture" thrives on appropriation in the arts to validate itself, without it the culture could not exist. Appropriation creates a sense of inclusion to those who dwell in the "Geek Culture" category and exclusion for the others, but does that make it right? to include some and not others? shouldn't all be included regardless of there cultural background?

I shall be looking at where i draw my own influences from and consider the ideas of applying this technique to my own films.