Essay Help?

[Big Spoon]

I'm writing a 15 page Conference Paper for my film history class on the parody movie. In the start of my paper, I discuss how parody occurs in a wide range of places, and I'm going to list music as one of them. What do you think would be the best Al song title to use in this?


Thanks.

[weird_el]

I'd be inclined to start with Al's parody songs about movies -- Saga Begins, Yoda etc. then segue into parody movies.

[Big Spoon]

Great idea, El. I already have an outline competed, though, so I don't think I'm going to do that, unfortunately. Although if I come up short, and need more pages (which I probably will), I'll add that in there.

[TMBJon]

I have no idea what you're actually asking. You just want the name of a song title?

[Big Spoon]

Yeah, basically just a song title that will help give the parody feel. So not like The Saga Begins or Couch Potato, but one more like The White Stuff.

[Well, Well, Well]

smells like nirvana.

[Big Spoon]

That's probably the perfect title to use here. Thanks, Bob!

[weirdojace]

^ Agreed, also it works the best because Smells Like Nirvana is one of the few Weird Al songs that legally fits the definition of a parody.

[childofthespiral]

There's a legal definition of a parody?

So all the parody songs that don't fit the definition are.... what?

[TMBJon]

There's a legal definition of a parody?

My God, yes. In fact, much of US copyright law centers around what is and is not "fair use," and parody, as strictly defined below, falls under this realm:

Although a parody can be considered a derivative work under United States Copyright Law, it can be protected from claims by the copyright owner of the original work under the fair use doctrine, which is codified in 17 USC § 107. The Supreme Court of the United States stated that parody "is the use of some elements of a prior author's composition to create a new one that, at least in part, comments on that author's works." That commentary function provides some justification for use of the older work.

So you can see how Smells Like Nirvana, Achy Breaky Song, etc fit quite neatly under the "parody" designation. Though, in my opinion, Al is commenting on the original song in every parody he does, simply in the nature of equating the subject matter in both songs.

So all the parody songs that don't fit the definition are.... what?

Lyrical adaptations.