I confess I don't understand the virtue in this kind of supposed artistic achievement. Sampling seems to me to be laziness disguised as sophistication. The collage was an interesting idea in 1911, but Picasso could at least paint. Many many artists have quoted other artists, made reference to earlier works, etc., even their own -- the moment in Die Meistersinger when Hans Sachs likens himself to King Mark and the orchestra suddenly shifts into Tristan is only one example -- but they had absorbed the earlier works completely and been able to play them, parody them, goof around with them (Shakespeare's use of Marlowe, for example) because they had internalised them, and had deep respect for them. None of these people seem to me to have earned the right to clip and paste someone else's work. Recasting the work, doing new versions of it, that all makes sense. Cutting and pasting it as your own artwork is suggesting that choice, decision making, is all that matters in making something. Why don't they go and learn how to play an instrument for pity's sake? Too much work -- have to learn scales.... no time....need to make my statement now.... I think it is an example of a lack of understanding of what makes a cultural tradition, and of how that underpins new work. It will disappear in the first strong wind, and good riddance.

yours, Peter T.