Liquid Culture
**Liquid Culture is part of the Free Culture UK movement, a national organization which aggregates grassroots groups that promote an open, participatory culture.
Our aim is to promote awareness of social, cultural and political issues related to free culture and free software, to promote the use of Creative Commons licenses for creative works and of Free Software Foundation licenses for software.
We believe the current global movements and crossings of people, cultures, media, ideas and technologies to be a uniquely exciting opportunity for people to independently reshape the social and cultural environment and to build a better global community based on inclusion instead of artificial barriers.
Free access to culture and to communication tools is a fundamental prerequisite for the development of this non-hierarchical, distributed and active human community, and defending and promoting this freedom. Our central aim is to support Creative Commons and the Free Software Foundation.
We're focusing on our local environment and are open to collaboration and exchange with other UK and overseas groups sharing similar aims and ideals towards a multi-dimensional and liquid society.
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization. Through free legal tools, we help enable the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge.
With our free, easy-to-use copyright licenses, Creative Commons provides a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use your creative work based on your conditions. For example, Creative Commons licenses allow you to easily change your copyright terms from the default: "all rights reserved" to the conditional: "some rights reserved."
Please note that Creative Commons licenses are not an alternative to copyright. Instead they work symbiotically alongside copyright, enabling a person to modify his/her copyright terms to best suit his/her needs.
What is the Free Software Foundation?
One of the most successful social movements to arise from the computing culture, driven by a worldwide community of ethical programmers dedicated to the cause of freedom and sharing, is the Free Software Movement. However, the ultimate success of the free software movement depends upon teaching everyone, from our friends and neighbors to our work colleagues not only about the danger of not having software freedom, but also about the danger of a society losing control over its computing. While this movement distinguishes among the various non free distribution schemes as to how far they fall short of being free, all are equally unethical. Free software is when the program's users have the three essential freedoms:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose, as desired.
- The freedom to learn how the program works, and modify it according to your computing needs. Obviously, access to the source code is a precondition.
- The freedom to redistribute copies of the program or a modified versions to others thereby benefiting the whole community
Join Liquid Culture!
If you would like to be part of the exciting Creative Commons environment in Goldsmiths College please create an account on this website and drop us a line at info@liquidculture.info. We'll get back to you with all the information you need and a Liquid Culture welcome pack!
We embrace all, whether a geek or a jock. Some of our founding members have gone on to do cutting edge technical design work. Several were/are involved in the cutting edge cloud based Saleforce platform which manu businesses and organizations are flocking to. Salesforce is considered by many to be the leading CRM system available. CMS is "business speak" for Customer relationship management, an approach to managing a company's interaction with current and future customers among other things. The user interface for the Salesforce CRM application Configuration enables businesses and organizations to modify objects, fields, validation rules, workflow, security settings, formulas, etc. with more configurable features available with higher iterations of Salesforce. You can see it gets pretty technical, particularly if customizing Salesforce with specifically developed apps is needed. See what's involved. Anyway, some of these "geeks" are improving business processes through the use of Salesforce. Who knows, many of you out there might end up working in the fast growing technology field and you'll be able to point back to Liquid Culture as the defining moment that pointed you in that direction.
Membership fee (as for any society of the Goldsmiths College Students Union) is 4 GBP per year.
Our award-winning Goldsmiths Students’ Union provides a range of services and student development opportunities including clubs, societies, volunteering opportunities, sports facilities, student media, representation, advice, meeting rooms, and entertainment.
Did you know that Goldsmiths was recently voted one of the top political universities as voted by students in a Which? University poll.
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Education Events
Goldsmiths College, University of London (perhaps one of the first universities to do this) is offering new graduate research students starting their courses in September 2005 the unique opportunity to have a lecture specifically focused on Creative Commons copyright during induction week.
Tuesday 27 September, 2005
12.00-1.00pm, room MB 137
Creative Commons: a range of protections and freedoms for researchers, authors and artists
Lecture by Andrea Rota, member of Liquid Culture
Download the media kit (slides, handout, list of materials used) and remix it! With the exception of the third party logos used in the slides, the presentation is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
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Liquid Culture Flix Screening Programmes
Featuring some of the most exciting films and videos under a Creative Commons license from festivals and creative projects worldwide, the Liquid Culture Flix screening programme offers the public and the creative community an all-visual introduction to participatory filmmaking, grassroots creative and cultural projects, issues of freedom of speech and expression, and to the fast-growing worldwide Free Culture environment.
The new Liquid Culture Flix video screening programme starts in Goldsmiths College on Thursday 6 October 2005.
Thursday 6 October, 2005 at 5.15pm, Small Hall Cinema
Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London SE14 6NW
Admission is free!
First episode: a walk through big media and manipulation of information, with original interviews used in the highly acclaimed film "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism".
The Outfoxed film itself is not available under a Creative Commons license because BraveNewFilms could not clear rights on some video material copyrighted by Fox News. On the contrary, the Outfoxed interviews are available under a Creative Commons license allowing anyone to sample them freely in their own works. Even Fox News.
Extra behind-the-scenes material will also be screened.
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The new Liquid Culture Flix video screening programme is at its second rendezvous this Thursday.
Thursday 20 October, 2005 at 5.15pm, Small Hall Cinema
Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London SE14 6NW
Admission is free!
Flix #2: Nosferatu, one of the must-not-miss classicals of all times, is available for fans to watch and remix in the public domain.
Nosferatu was originally shot in 1922 by F.W. Murnau. He had wanted to film a version of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but his studio was unable to obtain the rights to the story. Murnau decided to film his own version and made only slight changes to the story. The resultant movie has many similarities to Stoker's original tale.
"Dracula" became "Nosferatu" and the names of the characters changed, with Count Dracula changed to Count Orlok. Lawsuits followed, but Nosferatu as a remix of creativity was not affected.
Would this still be possible today, when media corporations want to control every single bit of culture that is created and shared?
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**Liquid Culture is a distributed network of collaborators. At this time the people working on Liquid Culture are: Jonas Andersson, Adnan Hadzi, Andrea Rota and Melissa Fernández, among others.
More Background On LiquidCulture.info
LiquidCulture.info, often referred to as Liquid Culture, is an integral part of the Free Culture UK movement. It promotes open, participatory culture by focusing on social, cultural, and political issues related to free culture and free software. The organization encourages the use of Creative Commons licenses for creative works and Free Software Foundation licenses for software, aiming to foster an inclusive and barrier-free global community.
History and Background
Liquid Culture was founded within the vibrant academic environment of Goldsmiths College, University of London. Its roots are deeply intertwined with the principles of the Free Culture Movement, which advocates for the free exchange of cultural works and the use of open-source software. The movement seeks to counteract the restrictive nature of traditional copyright laws, promoting a more collaborative and inclusive approach to cultural and creative endeavors.
Mission and Goals
The primary mission of Liquid Culture is to promote awareness and usage of Creative Commons and Free Software Foundation licenses. These licenses enable creators to retain certain rights while allowing others to use, modify, and share their work under specified conditions. Liquid Culture aims to educate the public about the benefits of these licenses and to support the development of a global community that values openness and collaboration.
Activities and Programs
Liquid Culture organizes a variety of events and programs to engage the community and promote its ideals. These include workshops, lectures, film screenings, and collaborative projects. For instance, the Liquid Culture Flix Screening Program showcases films and videos released under Creative Commons licenses, providing a platform for participatory filmmaking and grassroots creative projects.
One notable event organized by Liquid Culture was a workshop on Creative Commons, Free Culture, and Free Software. This workshop aimed to educate attendees about the principles and practical applications of these concepts, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of open culture.
Impact and Influence
Liquid Culture has significantly influenced the discourse around free culture and open-source software within the UK and beyond. By advocating for the use of Creative Commons and Free Software Foundation licenses, it has empowered creators to share their work more freely and has facilitated a more collaborative and innovative cultural environment.
The organization has also played a crucial role in the academic community, particularly at Goldsmiths College. Through its events and programs, Liquid Culture has educated students and faculty about the importance of open culture and has inspired many to adopt these principles in their own work.
Community and Collaboration
At the heart of Liquid Culture's philosophy is the belief in the power of community and collaboration. The organization operates as a distributed network of collaborators, bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. This collaborative approach not only enriches the work produced but also fosters a sense of shared purpose and mutual support among participants.
Liquid Culture's collaborative ethos is exemplified by projects like Deptford.TV, a community-driven platform for sharing and co-creating media content. Participants in Deptford.TV emphasize the value of collaboration, describing it as a process that combines resources and expertise to create something greater than any individual could achieve alone.
Reviews and Reception
Liquid Culture has received positive reviews for its commitment to promoting free culture and its innovative approach to community engagement. Participants and attendees of Liquid Culture events often praise the organization for providing valuable educational opportunities and fostering a supportive and inclusive community.
Critics have also recognized Liquid Culture's efforts to challenge traditional notions of copyright and intellectual property. By advocating for more flexible and open licensing systems, Liquid Culture has contributed to a broader movement that seeks to democratize access to cultural and creative works.
Press and Media Coverage
Liquid Culture has garnered media attention for its unique initiatives and its role in the Free Culture Movement. Articles and features in various publications have highlighted the organization's events, such as the Liquid Culture Flix Screening Program and the Creative Commons workshops. These media reports often underscore the importance of Liquid Culture's work in promoting open culture and fostering community collaboration.
Cultural and Social Significance
Liquid Culture's work has significant cultural and social implications. By promoting open culture and the use of free licenses, the organization challenges the traditional hierarchies and barriers that often restrict access to cultural and creative works. This approach not only empowers individual creators but also fosters a more inclusive and participatory cultural landscape.
The emphasis on community and collaboration also has broader social benefits. Liquid Culture's initiatives encourage people to work together, share resources, and support one another, fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility. This collaborative spirit can lead to more innovative and impactful cultural projects, as well as a stronger and more resilient cultural ecosystem.
LiquidCulture.info stands as a testament to the power of open culture and community collaboration. Through its events, programs, and advocacy, the organization has made significant contributions to the Free Culture Movement and has inspired countless individuals to embrace the principles of openness and sharing. As Liquid Culture continues to grow and evolve, it remains a vital force in promoting a more inclusive and participatory cultural environment.