All ideas have ancestors...

Check out these wonderfully done videos on "Everything Is A Remix".  They are short, but fascinating to watch and to the point:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Once you have watched them, watch these two videos that are on the same topics, but specific to these movies:

The Matrix
Raiders Of The Lost Ark

The point of these movies is that everything is a remix, or essentially a combination of other ideas.  I've been fascinated for years with genetic programming. It's the same idea, but for programs rather than ideas. Kirby Ferguson, who did the Part 1- 4 movies is making a new one called "This is Not a Conspiracy Theory". It looks to be fascinating as well. You can read more about it and his work on his web site, www.everythingisaremix.info.