While imitation may well be the sincerest form of flattery, it can be self-destructive and embittering to the creative who is so desperate to express himself that he highjacks the work of someone else to make his mark on the world.

This is especially tricky because all artists and writers have to study work that they admire to gain perspective on their own ideas and technique.

Some critics even make the case that there is nothing original left to portray in the world and that anything new comes not from choice of subject but its execution.

In a world in which images and stories proliferate with incredible speed, the temptation to use the work of others is greater than ever.

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