Is style reproduction a computational creativity task?

Is style reproduction a valid computational creativity task? Does producing output 'in the style of' an existing creator contribute to computational creativity research? Where is the creativity in imitation or replication of an existing style, and where does style reproduction fall into what has been criticised as `pastiche' rather than credible creative activity? This paper tackles these debates, which have been under-addressed in computational creativity literature. We review the presentation of past work in style reproduction, and consider the fit of such work into evolving definitions of computational creativity research. As part of this, we consider style reproduction itself as a creative task, both within and outside computational forms. We discuss various points of interest that emerge in the analysis, such as control in the creative process, intentionality and effort. Our work gives a more objective understanding of the level of creativity present in style generation, and specifically what value it brings to computational creativity research.