Unlicensed: Bootlegging as a Creative Practice

Synopsis

Unlicensed explores the evolving role of bootlegging as a creative practice rather than simply an act of imitation. Through twenty-one conversations with artists, designers, publishers, and cultural practitioners, Ben Schwartz examines how copying, appropriation, homage, and remixing have become powerful tools for questioning authorship, ownership, and originality. Covering everything from underground publishing and DIY culture to fashion, graphic design, and independent publishing, the book offers a fascinating look at the ways creative work is continually shaped by influence, repetition, and reinvention. Thought-provoking and accessible, Unlicensed is an essential read for anyone interested in contemporary art, design, and visual culture.

About the Author

Ben Schwartz is a graphic designer, editor, and researcher whose work explores publishing, visual culture, and contemporary design practice. He has collaborated with cultural institutions, publishers, and design studios on projects that examine the intersection of design, authorship, and intellectual property. Unlicensed brings together years of research into the history and creative potential of bootlegging, offering a thoughtful perspective on copying as a vital force in contemporary creative practice.

Publisher
Valiz

Publication Date
February 20, 2024

Format
Paperback

Pages
432

Subjects
Art & Design · Graphic Design · Visual Culture · Publishing · Creative Practice

ISBN
9789493246294