A New Genre

In Burroughs' "The Future of the Novel" he describes using a "fold-in method" (305) which consists of "A page of text- my own or someone else's-is folded down the middle and placed on another page- The composite text is then read across half one text and half the other" (305). This method creates new ways of looking at the novel and it creates new meanings and interpretations. Burroughs is advocating for something new; he wants writing to stand the test of time. To him, if writing is to have a future "it must at least catch up with the past and learn to use techniques that have been used for some time past in painting, music and film" (305). His method is much like those featured in Good Copy Bad Copy. For example, GirlTalk, a DJ that samples music and mashes them together, is trying to create something new. He is making music from music and is creating a new genre in itself. To me, he is an artist, a musician. He may sample previous work, but the songs he creates are unique in their own fashion.

Music as a whole is based on interpretation. It serves as a venue for people wanting to use the basic notes (C,D,E,F,G,B,A) to show their vision. And because we, as humans, have an infinite number of interpretations, there is no end to what music can be. From Sisqo (the Thong Song is my jam) to the Beatles, music is unique. And even if sampling is frowned upon ( I don't think so) DJ's such as GirlTalk have formed a new genre: mixed and mashed.