Although Indy Arts emerged expediently out of the immediate needs of a group of independent artists and media producers, our ideas for structural reform of media, culture and dialogue in the United States draw from a variety of philosophical sources and practices.

These include modern D.I.Y. movements; traditions around the Commons and the public domain; the historic role of the Fourth Estate; and critiques of the effects of commercialism on civic participation and cultural engagement.

Here's a list of some of the founding documents that have inspired and informed us over the years.

• "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" (Neal Postman, Penguin USA, 1985)
• "Commodify Your Dissent: Salvos from The Baffler," (Frank & Wieland, editors; W.W. Norton, 1997)
• "924 Gilman: The Story So Far" (Brian Edge, editor; Maximumrocknroll, 2004)
• "The New Media Monopoly" (Ben Bagdikian; Beacon Press, 2004)
• "On Behalf of Journalism: A Manifesto for Change" (Geneva Overholser; The Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2006)
• "Frequently Asked Questions: Public Media" (Pat Aufderhide and Jessica Clark; The American University Center for Social Media)
• "The Growing Importance of Nonprofit Journalism" (Charles Lewis; The Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics & Public Policy, 2007)
• "We Owe You Nothing: Punk Planet -- The Collected Interviews" (Daniel Sinker, editor; Akashic Books, 2007)
• "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" (Rocket Fuel Films, 2005)