We are in the midst of a great upheaval in the distribution of media, including films. The old model, in which media conglomerates controlled content, price, and access, is quickly being subverted. Despite legal threats, BitTorrent networking has emerged as the most popular form of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. For millions, these networks are an increasingly attractive option to bypass traditional media routes. In fact, Millennials, the generation born from 1980 – 2000, have not only grown accustomed to free content, but viewing it in nontraditional ways (e.g. computers, mobile devices). Thus far, media conglomerates have largely resisted change. But they have cried foul, citing significant losses to their bottom line as a result of BitTorrents. Not surprisingly, a coalition of Hollywood studios, governmental agencies, and Internet service providers (ISPs) have begun to heavily crack down on illegal downloaders—damages can now total up to $250,000 per case. But, is free content the new normal? Who are the winners and losers in this new paradigm? And how does this help or harm filmmakers? Finally, if the legality or ethics of pirating hasn’t persuaded millions of users to stop, what can or will prompt them to return to paying for films? In a clear and concise persuasive essay, argue for or against the use of torrents in obtaining and viewing films.
- “Torrents for Dummies” (SloMo Tech)
- “Why Movie Piracy IS Bad (And What to Do About it)” (ScreenRant)
- “Real Cost of 'Free' Downloads” (USA Today)
- “You Will Never Kill Piracy, and Piracy Will Never Kill You” (Forbes)
- “How Hollywood is Encouraging Online Piracy” (Scientific American)
- “Why I Stopped Pirating and Started Paying for Media” (Lifehacker)
- “How People are Caught Illegally Downloading Music, Movie Torrents” (International Business Times)
- “No Surprise: Hollywood Doesn't Understand Where Pirated Movies Come From” (Gizmodo)
- “TV and Film Piracy: Threatening an Industry?” (Forbes)
- “Carnegie Mellon Study Claims Online Piracy Has Strong Effect on Movie Sales” (Buzzfeed)
- “Confused Views: The 7 Sane Solutions to Movie Piracy” (Den of Geek)
- “How Much Do Music and Movie Piracy Really Hurt the U.S. Economy?” (Freakonomics)
- “The Movie Industry Needs to Stop Whining about Piracy and Embrace Digital” (Business Insider)
- “Busting World’s Biggest Movie Pirates Made Piracy Worse” (TorrentFreak)
- “File Sharing” (Electronic Frontiers Foundation)
All articles can be found in the eR.
Requirements:
- MLA Style, including parenthetical citation
- 3-page minimum
- Include a works cited page
A well-executed paper will:
- Have a title that articulates its point of view
- Have a concise thesis with a clear argument outlining one side of the movie pirating debate
- Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
- Clearly support its thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure, citing exclusively from the articles above
- Utilize solid rhetorical techniques in order to convince readers of its position
- Conclude with a summation of its argument
- Properly cite its evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
- Be in compliance with MLA Style
Due: Th 06.20
