The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin

- quote from beginning about the physical component of art no longer being treated as it used to be

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·      basic conditions of reproduction exploit the middle class

·      Without the different levels of society there would be no point in distinguishing the classes

·      The mechanical reproduction of art is a new form of reproduction; imitation of something

·      Lithography creation: mass reproduction becomes easier through the process of wood cuts

·      The eye perceives more swiftly than it can draw; pictorial reproduction is accelerated

·      1900’s for mass production has now made way for its own ways of recreation.

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·      reproductions lack the aura, presence and time and space

·      The idea of authenticity is born and the possibility as forgery of a work of art; for it to be replicated and lose its original touch

·      The reproduction of the work of art destroys the idea of tradition and the use of art for tradition

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·      “The manner in which human perception is organized, the medium in which it is accomplished, is determined not only by nature but by historical circumstances as well.” Meaning history has play into how people will know how to look at a work of art and respond to it and the reproduction

·      Reality of something is no longer unique because it can be reproduced

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·      The uniqueness of a work of art is still embedded in tradition of a work of art

·      Categorizing art based on its social functions, not necessarily the use for rituals

·      Mechanical reproduction removed the purpose of ritual use for art

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·      Two planes grow: The cult following or use of an image and then how it is exhibited

o   The cult makes it a private viewing

o   The exhibition gives new coconscious functions

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·      Rival value of photography for the use of reproduction and for personal gain or value ex a picture of family

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·      Painting vs Photography

o   Photography is a “sterile” copy when painting still has a barrier of separation to the creation process

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·      Film and the separation of the actor and the stage

·      The audience can now critique the work without developing personal relationships

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·      The actor is now in front of a camera and not people, so the aura of the man is removed. The personal connection with viewer and actor is gone because of the mechanical camera

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·      People who now able to reproduce the film, they lose connection

·      People are now experts of what they see; they can critique and become part of the film process

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·      Film prevents one solid view or vantage point to be realized when watching. There are many more elements that go into making a film that were not present in the past

·      The film maker is now extremely close to the world and brings forth a new reality that a painter can’t achieve because of the use of the medium

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·      The painting can be viewed by one person or a small group of people and thought about on an internal level

·      Film creates a larger scale connection between viewers and enjoyment, creating a larger space for critique

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·      The use of film brings forth more scientific detail than that of the painter; making people look closer into the use for their lives

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·      Dadaism is created; the destruction of aura by taking a mush of different materials to create work that looks like a reproduction

·      Through their use of collage and compiling, the Dadaists recreate what film can do; give lots of little bits of information at once

The use of technology is how the futurists refer to as war; people are not successfully incorporating the use of technology into their work and it is used as something supplemental and not vital. It changes the way that people interact with technology and how it is viewed