All Of It: Public Domain Day and the Public Song Project at Joe's Pub! Hosted by Alison Stewart, WNYC | Release Date: January 2, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of All Of It, Alison Stewart delves into the significance of Public Domain Day, exploring the plethora of creative works that have recently entered the public domain. The discussion is enriched by insights from Jennifer Jenkins, the director of Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain, and proceeds to highlight the upcoming Public Song Project concert at Joe's Pub. Additionally, producer Simon Close provides details about the event's lineup and interactive segments.

Public Domain Day Unveiled

[00:17 - 01:38]

Alison Stewart opens the episode by announcing the imminent Public Song Project concert at Joe's Pub, scheduled for the following Wednesday. She underscores the importance of Public Domain Day, celebrated the previous day, marking the expiration of copyrights and the liberation of various artistic works.

Key Highlights:

• Definition of Public Domain Day: A day when copyrights expire, allowing works to be freely used, adapted, and remixed.
• Notable Entries from 1929: Includes iconic songs like "Singing in the Rain," literary works such as Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, and artists like Salvador Dalí. Additionally, beloved characters like Popeye and Tintin join Mickey Mouse, previously entered into the public domain.

Notable Quote:

"Which means as of yesterday, I can play as much of this 1924 recording of Rhapsody in Blue featuring George Gershwin on piano as I want to for free." — Alison Stewart [00:30]

The Importance of the Public Domain

[01:39 - 10:07]

Jennifer Jenkins explains why the public domain is crucial for creativity and cultural preservation. She emphasizes that the public domain serves as a "snapshot of a moment in time," offering opportunities for rediscovery and creative endeavors.

Key Points:

• Creative Freedom: Artists can adapt, remix, and build upon existing works without legal restrictions or fees.
• Cultural Preservation: Preserves important cultural artifacts, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.

Notable Quotes:

"It's a snapshot of a moment in time and it's the opportunity to rediscover and do something creative like with your Public Song Project." — Jennifer Jenkins [01:47]

"What does it mean for something to be in the public domain? It means that the copyright has expired and so the work becomes free for anyone to use and build upon without permission and without fee." — Jennifer Jenkins [02:21]

Highlighting 1929's Public Domain Contributions

[02:34 - 04:12]

Jennifer provides a detailed overview of the significant works from 1929 that have entered the public domain. This year’s domain dump is rich with musical numbers, early sound films, and literary masterpieces.

Key Highlights:

• Film Innovations: Introduction of synchronized sound in movies, marking the transition from silent films.
• Notable Figures: Early works by Alfred Hitchcock, Cecil B. DeMille, and John Ford.
• Iconic Music: Classics like "Singing in the Rain," "Ain't Misbehavin'," and George Gershwin's "An American in Paris."

Notable Quote:

"It's when we finally figured out how to get the synchronized sound working right and so sound films really took over and displaced silent films in 1929." — Jennifer Jenkins [02:34]

Popeye and Tintin Join the Public Domain

[04:12 - 10:07]

Alison Stewart and Jennifer Jenkins discuss the inclusion of Popeye and Tintin in the public domain, exploring the creative possibilities this opens up for artists and creators.

Key Points:

• Creative Adaptations: Opportunity to create new stories, animations, and crossovers involving Popeye and Tintin.
• Trademark vs. Copyright: Jennifer clarifies the distinction, noting that while the characters are in the public domain, trademark protections on names may still apply to prevent consumer confusion.

Notable Quotes:

"You can make your own Popeye feature. You can make your own Popeye animation. You can write a children's book where Popeye, Tintin, and the adorable dog Snowy go on adventures together." — Jennifer Jenkins [04:12]

"Trademarks are different. So here's my attempt to do it quickly. So copyright covers creative works and copyrights expire. Trademarks are protections for brands. They can last forever so long as the brand is still being used." — Jennifer Jenkins [09:02]

Exploring the Public Domain in Music and Film

[10:16 - 14:32]

The conversation shifts to the specifics of how music and films enter the public domain, distinguishing between compositions and recordings.

Key Highlights:

• Music:
  • Compositions vs. Recordings: Compositions from 1929 are now public domain, while recordings from 1924 have also entered the public domain this year. However, modern recordings, like Gene Kelly's rendition of "Singin' in the Rain," remain under copyright.
• Film:
  • Screening and Adaptation: Public domain films can be screened freely in community theaters or used in new creative projects without licensing fees.

Notable Quotes:

"If you want the longer legal analysis, you're welcome to go to my annual Public Domain Day celebration and spell it out there too." — Jennifer Jenkins [09:02]

"Sound recordings... excludes sounds accompanying a motion picture. So unlike separate recordings, if it was part of a movie... that's actually going into the public domain this year." — Jennifer Jenkins [13:12]

Visual Art and Publication Nuances

[14:01 - 15:26]

Jennifer delves into the complexities surrounding visual art entering the public domain, emphasizing the importance of whether a work was officially published.

Key Points:

• Publication Definition: A work is in the public domain only if it was published under the terms defined by copyright laws in 1929.
• Challenges with Art: Determining publication status of artworks can be difficult, as some may have been displayed privately without official publication.

Notable Quotes:

"It's trickier because of what I mentioned. In some cases, unlike with Dalí, we know that there was an exhibition that you don't know whether the art was published or not." — Jennifer Jenkins [14:01]

Literature Welcomed into the Public Domain

[15:14 - 15:26]

Jennifer expresses excitement about the wealth of literary works now available in the public domain, including classics by Faulkner, Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, and Dashiell Hammett.

Notable Quote:

"I'm actually discovering all the plot twists for the first time, I'm like, what happened? I don't know. So there's a lot of sexism in it... but, man, he can write a detective story." — Jennifer Jenkins [14:32]

Public Song Project at Joe's Pub

[15:22 - 17:35]

Producer Simon Close provides an overview of the upcoming Public Song Project concert, highlighting featured artists and interactive elements planned for the event.

Key Highlights:

• Performers: Bela Fleck, Nellie McKay, the Lemon Twigs, Rhiannon Giddens, DJ Rekha, and Joanna Sternberg.
• Interactive Segments: Trivia segments with Public Domain-themed questions and record giveaways.
• Special Performances: Juliet Riley, a past winner, will perform her song "Summer Sang," inspired by Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem.

Notable Quotes:

"This year, in the event of bad weather, the show's gonna go on, which is to say that we'll still be singing in the rain as a group." — Simon Close [17:00]

"Juliet Riley will be performing her song at Joe's Pub on Wednesday, January 8th at 7pm next week." — Simon Close [17:35]

Closing Remarks and Upcoming Shows

[18:15 - 20:25]

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by teasing the next day’s show, which will launch the new series What the Heck, focusing on life improvement hacks with guest Christopher Bonannos from New York Magazine.

Notable Quote:

"Tomorrow, we'll speak with New York Magazine city editor Christopher Bonannos. He joins us to talk about ways to hack New York, from how to game the subway exits to getting discount Broadway tickets and scoring restaurant reservations." — Alison Stewart [19:38]

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It provides a comprehensive exploration of Public Domain Day, highlighting the vast array of creative works now available for public use. Through engaging discussions with Jennifer Jenkins and insights from producer Simon Close, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with the public domain. The episode culminates with an exciting preview of the Public Song Project concert, inviting the community to celebrate and engage with the newly accessible cultural treasures.

Resources Mentioned:

• Public Song Project Tickets: wnyc.org/publicsong
• Jennifer Jenkins' Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University
• Public Theater, Joe's Pub

Upcoming Episode:

• Title: What the Heck
• Air Date: January 3, 2025
• Guest: Christopher Bonannos, City Editor at New York Magazine

All Of It continues to be your companion and curator of New York City's diverse cultural landscape, fostering a community where varied perspectives thrive. Join Alison Stewart and the WNYC community as they celebrate and explore the multifaceted world of culture.