Walter Benjamin explored the rapid production of artwork and argued that technology has changed the perception of people on how art is viewed and experienced under different circumstances. Originally, artwork was associated with traditions, heritage, and aura. However, mechanically reproduced artwork changed these views and is mostly characterized by repeatability.
Artwork was used for ritual practices by the Greeks to represent their cult and as a means to reach God, something they couldn’t physically touch. In the modern days, due to mass reproduction of artwork, the social use of artwork have changed to political practices, losing not only its aura but also transforming how art is consumed. The value of artwork is now based on exhibition exposure rather than traditional cult ritual practices. Though mechanically reproduced artwork is more common nowadays, it fails to attract to human senses as opposed to traditional artwork.
Though the aura of the original artwork is not present in a photographed reproduced version, imagine a world without digital reproduction of artwork, which has a wider exposure to people who cannot reach the original piece, only a few people would have the chance of seeing Mona Lisa or the Starry Night in their lives. I believe that digital reproduced artwork actually brings more advantages than disadvantages as it is exposed to and accessible by everyone who cannot reach the original artwork.
3035805851 Gul Bilal
A good summary of Benjamin’s piece. You could also point out what aspect of a film Benjamin appreciated (e.g. see p.40, the comparison of architecture to film). This is a dialectic piece, meaning that the author, despite having a stance, discussed the subject matter from different points of view to find the truth.
Technological reproduction has indeed allowed great artworks to be shared with the masses. Yet it has also made the space of sharing artworks (e.g. museum, gallery) more redundant. Aren’t these spaces necessary for concentration and aura? I would like to see how you further explain your point on ‘digital reproduced artwork brings more advantages than disadvantages’ as even in the contemporary era, digital reproduction is more complex than just raising accessibility.