Reader Response

By Steve | Published: 10/05/2009

In response to Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” 1935.
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This essay is Benjamin’s most cited work. It discusses the evolution of different forms of media/art and more specifically how technological advances in reproduction have or will render the original less unique and awe-inspiring.

Since written in 1935, we have the luxury of looking back in history to decide for ourselves whether or not his predictions came true — and I have to disagree with Benjamin. A famous painting for example: as a result of reproduction I have been exposed to more art than I would otherwise. I feel this exposure has given me more knowledge to appreciate an original. Yet when I am able to experience an original (most likely in a museum) I still feel the “aura” Benjamin writes about. The aura never left and was never stripped away. It is an intrinsic value of the original instilled in the time and place when the artist gave birth to his/her creation.

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