Grad Art Benjamin assignment

What is the aura of a work of art?

The aura of a work of art is found in its authenticity, timeliness, socio-political stance, historical references, artistic medium, cultural context, personal artistic nuances, and all things that make it a genuinely personal creation. A piece of art is not unlike us; it also carries emotional ties, has its own body language, and can and will be affected by its surroundings deeply and personally. The aura of a work of art can also be found in the interaction between the viewer and itself for the brief moment in time that is shared in some transcendental psychological dialog.

In Benjamin's mind what effects did mechanical reproduction, such as film and the camera photography, have on the viewer’s perception of art?

Mechanical reproduction has not damaged the intrinsic value of art nor has it degraded its cultural significance merely changed specific aspects of the art world and how these changes directly correlate to everyday life. Mechanical reproduction has made artwork more accessible to the commoner and has lessened the sense of the “purity of art” that was predominating in Modernism. With photography and film the artist can keep up with cultural trends, speech, idioms, and their interactions with other cultures. These new technologies enable art to retain more of its authenticity.

What is meant by the passage: “for the first time in world history, mechanical
reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual.”

Art’s shift from art of ceremonial objects to those that encompassing the artist’s views and from “private reverence” to “public common place” shows a swing away from the ritualization of art. The reproductive nature of work being done in this day and age has in part destroyed the ideas of the “original”. In some cases there is no “original” (like photographic prints) which is a direct contribution from the age of mechanical reproduction. The arguments that encircle the values of authenticity cease to exist and new issues come into the lime light regarding artistic value, cultural content, and socio-political economics.

What mechanically or otherwise reproductive processes are changing the face of art today?

The vast cornucopia of technological innovations has changed the face of the world. With Globalization the world has become figuratively smaller and the use of technology has opened up new avenues for communication. This communication enables artists to be influenced by an ever burgeoning artistic community. New CAD programs allow for complex model making, new digital technology allows for films and other videos to be taken and edited faster than ever. Projectors, lazers, Micro and Macro lenses, and computers have and will continue to add their influences to new and personal art movements and styles.