The mash-up involves two or more works of music, video or other media being cut up and recombined together to create a new derivative work, and is a hugely popular ‘genre’ today. It’s a fun way to pay homage to your inspirations, a method of satirising or commenting on issues, and it lets you explore the possibilities of whatever medium or technology you’re working with.
For instance, most people know about using the iPhone as an e-book reader, a song-identifier or even a light sabre. Some clever clogs, however, have also turned the iPhone into a variety of different musical instruments that utilise the multi-touch screen. The Ocarina app has the user blow into the microphone and hold the device as though playing a flute, producing an authentic pan-pipe sound. Other applications create miniature but playable keyboards and guitars, good enough to create an iPhone rock band!
Auto-Tune the News is another example of a technological mash-up, combining the pitch refining software and sharp video editing to create a series of satirical news songs. Barack Obama has ‘featured’ on the show, as has Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and various CBS and Fox news anchors.
Mash-ups aren’t just mere novelty, however. Merging the best traits of dissimilar technologies can lead to a useful and practical result, like the widely-used Everyblock. The site plots crime statistics, restaurant inspections and countless other data onto Google Maps to give a comprehensive view of what’s happening in a particular neighbourhood.
It’s exciting to be part of the new media industry and get involved in these innovative projects. The best part is, consider the potential all these collaborative, remixable works have for spawning new technologies in themselves..
