I get it. I really do.
You’re out of time or stressed or you feel under pressure to create original content for whatever reason you can conjure up.
I’ve been there, a lot. Or, at least I know what the pressure is all about.
I believe there’s a healthy balance between “duplicating” content and sustainability, but the balance (if you want to call it that) changes depending on your audience and focus.
As a body of believers we are required to “duplicate” content because we have such a rich history that must be taken into account as we the Church matures; we can never forget nor deny wholesale our past and what’s been built before our time.
On the other hand, we have the creativity and drive to redeem this culture and create things anew. Although it may seem “duplicate” to an outsider, our unique and spiritual perspective changes it.
We don’t have to be masters of the balance but we need to realize and recognize the tension.
Paul Sanduleac says
Agree.
John Saddington says
your gravatar is neat.
Graham says
We must also remember that we are called to be original and creative and to not duplicate other people’s content. Even if we’re using slightly different wording…
dannyjbixby says
Called to it?
Based upon what?
Sorry, just looking for expansion.
Jeremy Hoover says
I agree. This reminds me of the gospel itself–always the same, always duplicatable, but always presented in different ways. So we need to be careful not to “duplicate” the current hip, cool content, but the unchanging, everlasting content of the gospel in different, cultural forms.
Tyler says
Well said John. I think you described the tension between the strength of our faith’s history and being creative so well.
John Saddington says
word up. 😉
Nate Beaird says
“Redeem this culture” – like music to my ears! Well said!
Rodlie says
Wow! I can’t believe that men’s health cover…just copied everything! That’s dirty…
Nick Shoemaker says
Duplicate: one of two or more identical things; a copy of an original
It kind of reminds me of Multiplicity with Michael Keaton- each Steve is dumber than the last.
Anyways- sorry I was distracted, my point:
Word. We need to remember that The Story changes everything.
However- this doesn’t mean it’s ok to go out and make Christian t-shirts that infringe on mainstream designs. While this isn’t copyright infringement, it’s just lame.
There I said- I don’t like Christian t-shirts. But I love Jesus. 🙂
John Saddington says
i like tshirts period.
Bryan says
What’s funny is that I just subscribed to this mag for the first time. Guess I won’t have to renew at the end of the year…
John Saddington says
whoops. 😉
Bryan says
There is some glare over the 2009 mag. It looks like it says “Drugs for More Sex”. Even the glare is trying give them new ideas for articles
Clark Frailey says
I have wondered about this myself. Part of the post-message series blues kicks in for me as I realize all the graphics, bumpers, banners, postcards, etc aren’t needed anymore.
It’s nearly as bad as my post-VBS blues. So much work for one week, now in the dumpster.
I have lately thought about the idea of recycling/repackaging good content. Perhaps not to the degree of Men’s Health. In Andy Stanley’s “Communicating for a Change” and “Can We Do That” the model of message planning implies a certain amount of “theme” repetition.
John Saddington says
yes. love it. definitely agree that there’s value in repetition.
Calum Henderson says
Poor form from a major magazine.
Blogging has the issue that a lot of great content get’s pushed to the back of your site. So perhaps duplicating content isn’t the answer for a blog, just getting the content to be seen throughout your site…