Post Blog - 9/17

  I understand much more of what Benjamin was talking about in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" because I feel that music has went along the same route of losing its aura. Music has become more and more a product of a soulless industry that runs off formulas and mass appeal. In my opinion, more music from the past is a product of an artistic expression from a skilled and inspired artist. Technology has made it such that little to no musical skill is needed in the production of music. Music is becoming more and more synthesized and computerized taking all the humanity and emotions that originally were present in music as an art.
  Yes, music has been more of an art in the past, but now it is a manufactured product seeking mass appeal in return producing larger profits. There are some exceptions os musicians who stay true to their artistic vision and do not 'sell-out', but as a whole the music industry is largely commercial and formulaic to appeal the broadest market to minimize the financial risks inherent in business ventures, since it is now much more of a business than an art form.

  I feel that also Benjamin's point about the value of art changing from cult to exhibitive also relates to music. A song like "In My Life" written by McCartney/Lennon of The Beatles is a song that is a memorial and reflection to friends and family in life. It captures a poetic beauty in its presentation and is, in my opinion, a truly heartfelt and epic song that is pure in spirit. Unfortunately the song has been exploited, used, in recent times in a a way that puts a new value to it. A cover of 'In My Life' was used as an intro song for a TV series called "Providence". When I first caught the intro I was just sickened, because a song that means so much to me was used as an intro to a TV show, especially a cover. I feel that songs, like art are exploited and it undermines the artistic integrity of the work.