Melanie McBride’s article Praxis 2.0 presents very important challenges to the contemporary education system and its limitations. As she points out in the “Situated creativity” section, learning is a form of praxis – a process of discovery in which theories and skills are practiced, developed, and applied. Fundamentally, education should be the embodiment of this view, but in reality, it can be its antithesis. I think this is an important debate for not only teachers but for students to participate in and challenge. I agree with her emphasis on students controlling their education. Students actively defining and questioning their education is what leads to creativity. Working under the guidance of a professional is critical to higher education, but it does not have to be its definitive quality. I have sat through classes that I can say I did not learn anything because the professor only lectured and worked within the “traditional” American system of education but I’ve also had similar experiences in classes that have been completely student run. Students and teachers should work together in a mentorship atmosphere, leaning more to the partnership side. However, if teachers are limited by the legal demands of contemporary education they can’t offer their students everything they need to experience the learning process and produce creativity works. I think Melanie and Brian Lamb are right in that its time to recognize that everything is already plagiarized and its stigmatization and condemnation might is not as clear cut as its used in the arts and education.

My only previous experiences with remix/mashup culture has been through cultural consumption – primarily music, but also literature (lately its been the mashup of zombies, monsters, and the literary classics). And I do have one not too serious question – are mashups an honor code violation?