The Value and Ownership of Art in a Digital Age

Abstract

This thesis examines three key research questions, including: How are artists making art and making a living? How do they use the Internet in their artistic practice? How do they use and understand copyright? These questions are designed to address current gaps in copyright research and discuss the Canadian case by highlighting the opinions of artists and the role of the Internet. Analysis includes 15 interviews with musicians, authors, visual artists, and filmmakers. The majority of participants needed to work another job to financially supplement their art. They also felt that the current Canadian system functioned well, but is underfunded, and art is under-appreciated at a broader social level. Participants felt that the Internet allows artists to circumvent some of the established curatorial institutions, but institutional support is still important. They also noted that systems like Creative Commons licensing, and websites like Bandcamp and Vimeo work well for artists.