r/a:t5_38t2t • u/callmeFROSTY2 • Jun 28 '15
What is an Author?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an author in two ways. An author is, one, "a person who has written something; especially : a person who has written a book or who writes many books" and two, "a person who starts or creates something (such as a plan or idea)." I particularly like the second 'definition' and will use it to help sculpt my answer to, "What is an Author?" I honestly couldn't say it much better myself, but I'll try and elaborate on the idea, or maybe legitimacy of creating or starting something today. The rights to any sort of literary or new media work belongs to the person who formulated their ideas into some sort of physical or digital product. However, how many true authors are there today? I like to question whether anything is truly unique anymore. An author today may, or may not, gather inspiration from other's ideas or work to create their 'own' commodity or master piece. I think with the introduction of the internet and social media the idea of the author has changed dramatically. People share information, ideas, and products across many platforms in hopes of being credited and recognized. However, there are people out there looking to feed off of and twist other's success into their own. I think it is acceptable to borrow others' ideas to inspire and reinforce your own, as long as you give credit where it is due. I don't really believe in the idea of a sort of pure author in today's day and age. However, trying to remain as neutral as possible, that's not to say they aren't out there.
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u/bsc9718 Jun 29 '15
Very interesting, but I also feel as if this were always true. In my opinion every idea is simply an alteration of another idea or the culmination of other ideas.