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03/03/2006: "Artistic Plagiarism"
At my jewellery class last night one woman had blatantly copied the idea I was working on for my bracelet as she showed off a piece she'd made during the week. To say I was annoyed is a slight understatement. And the worse thing is, I don't think she even realises what she's done. The only thing I could say when she showed it to me was a pathetic "oh, that's like the bracelet I'm making" which really didn't emphasise the internal anger and the fact that, as a non-violent person, I nearly decked her.
So I spent the whole class trying to work out how to do something else with all the hard work I've put in. Changing direction in the second last class of term, two weeks before assessment isn't really a good idea. Whatever I try to do now, is definitely against the clock. Now, I know I may be over-reacting but I was devastated. The amount of work and time, creative effort and development I have put into my piece wasn't really so that someone else could come along, see my idea and go away and make it for herself the following week. She's not on the degree programme and makes jewellery during the week to sell. So my ideas will possibly be used for her profit. I am sick. Sick, sick sick.
To make things worse, I totally melted a piece of silver I was working on because the flame was too hot - that would be my wrath coming out of my fingers! My tutor was fairly sympathetic when she asked why I was trying to do something different at the end of the class. When I pointed out I didn't want to be accused of plagiarism, she seemed to understand but did say that I should be flattered...no, I'm not flattered, I'm murderous! .... 
I should be flattered I suppose but strangely, I don't really see it like that. I could cry.
