The Ecstasy of Influence

It seems to me that Lethem is advocating plagiarism and that he wants to highlight different areas where prominent work in our society, whether it is art or literature, is a reinvention of previous work. He doesn't necessarily say that this plagiarism is a bad thing, however. The term plagiarism often carries a negative connotation with it. Plagiarism is seen as a shameful act. But Lethem doesn't intend the ward to be used in that sense in his essay. Lethem even goes as far as to say that his own writings are plagiarized as well. It is not a call of rejection to "plagiarized" work, just a truthful statement that his writing are created off of the thoughts of others. That's just the way it is. Lethem writes, "You, reader, are welcome to my stories. They were never mine in the first place, but I gave them to you." Lethem does bring up solid points. I can't speak much on the examples in literature that he brings forth, but as far as art is concerned, it is all interrelated. Every artist knew what other artists in their time were doing. The different phases through art history were all reactions to the phase before. Is this plagiarism? In Lethem's definition, yes. They are using the ideas and the works of others to create their own. I wouldn't say that the influence of one writer on another is a cause for shame or for ecstasy. It is honestly just inevitable. It is in our nature as human beings to interpret the influences of our environment as they relate to us.