There is nothing new under the sun.

Inspiration. Imitation. Plagarism. Deja Vu. Call it what you will, but nothing existing is new. In the broadest of terms, what you say has been said. What you do has been done. What you see has been seen. The artist, the musician, the chef, the writer, the designer -- their creation is not new. The canvas with paint and color was not created by Rembrandt, or numbers and math by Pascal, or words into poetry by Shakespeare. Each of our successors, had a successor. Each of our inspirations, had inspirations.

This doesn't mean we should lay down on the couch and curl up in the fetal position and let life just pass by. Inasmuch as things have been or existed before you, you as an individual have not (at least I don't think so, sorry Shirley McClaine - Shirley you must be kidding ...).

"New", as I'm defining it, means original. A thing without reference, standard or benchmark. One only needs to post a design to a "design linklog" (preferrably one with comments enabled) to get the flurry of "you ripped (fill in name here) off, you suck" and such informed comments. Substitute design, with music, or art, or writing. A true original creation will not be found. We as humans are immitators.

As we learn and develop upon what we see, the "newness" of a thing evolves and changes. Our unique visions and interpretations skew what we've built on to make it something other. Not completely original. but altered by the shear fact that is it now (present) and done by you. Even a print is not exact to its original (though most likely not obvious).

This also does not mean that since nothing is new or orginal, that there is no plagarism, or nothing sacred. This is not an "either or" argument. If nothing is new does not mean that nothing is unique or different. Chicken is always chicken. Green is always green. Words means what they mean. Its structure, form, application, meaning, reference, situation, flavor, combination - these things cause difference (or uniqueness).

One develops difference through likeness, through immitation, through study, through trial and error. Perhaps even plagarizing - or as I prefer to call it; copying (plagarism is only true plagarism one the copier claims the work as his own). None of these should ever be the norm of the craft (although sometimes that is the unfortunate outcome of selfish, sinful and lazy man).

Copy and imitation should graduate to uniqueness with a difference, similarity with perspective in a craft or art - infused with personal style, flare, voice; a finger print if you will. And this is how art and literature and fashion and cuisine have evolved throughout history. Are there those that blatantly "rip off" - obviously there always will be; but one does not need to look far over his shoulder when pointing the finger at another, to find a finger pointing right back at him.