Walter Benjamin’s (1935) essay criticises reproduction technology for devaluing the aura of art, arguing that it diminishes their individuality, as defined by a sense of “here” and “now” during which a piece is produced. To him, the loss of authenticity seems to have crippled art’s philosophical appeal and their cult value. However, is that all there is in the value of art?
I believe (and as Benjamin rightly suggests), the modern artforms of photography and film prove reproducibility to be not mutually exclusive with aura. For one, no other artform captures the here and now like the cameraman’s skilful manipulation of their lens. For another, the existence of photography depends entirely on their reproducibility, which is needed to fulfil the exhibition value of art. In fact, this kind of electronic media is precisely what breathes new life to all other artforms — be it ancient or contemporary — by capturing, re-interpreting, and delivering them, to a much wider audience, as well as preserving them for all eternity.
Kwong Hoi Shan, 3035663588
Reference: Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.
Your response shows a good understanding of Benjamin’s text, I enjoy reading how you focused on photography and film in relation to his concepts of reproducibility, values, and aura.
I would argue that the cameraman’s skilful manipulation of their lens are in fact merely “an artistic performance” (2008, 29) in Benjamin’s words. What makes film an artform is the “montage” which is “a reproduction of a process” (2008, 29). “It [Film] is assembled from a very large number of images and images sequences that offer an array of choices to the editor; these images, moreover, can be improved in any desired way in the process leading from the initial take to the final cut.” (2008. 28) The capability of improvement through editing in film renunciate its eternal value and makes it different from other ancient art forms which you have mentioned in the response.
To reflect further, why and how is film the art for the masses?