Post Class Benjamin 9/23 - Andrea Luongo

In Walter Benjamin’s essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical reproduction, Benjamin raises some very important points regarding art and reproduction, and the impact that it has on society.  Unlike many other readings that we’ve done thus far, I found Benjamin to be easily comprehensible, especially when talking about the essay in class.  What I found to be the most interesting aspect of Benjamin’s essay was the idea that, as Benjamin states, “But the instant the criterion of authenticity ceases to be applicable to artistic production, the total function of art is reversed.  Instead of being based on ritual, it begins to be based on another practice – politics” (40-41).  I found this idea to be fascinating, because this quote truly represents what our society has come to.  Instead of focusing on the artwork itself – that being the beauty of the work, and the feelings of the artist – nowadays in our society, art is based on a monetary value.  As we talked about in class, whenever there is an auction and a piece of work is sold, the only thing that is really reported on is the price that the piece of art went was sold for.

This has become a reoccurring theme, in general, in our society.  Works of art that once held so much meaning are now the victims of mass production, so that any gift shop, or store can make money.  In this sense, what once seemed so valuable is now reduced to very little.  As Benjamin states, “Secondly, technical reproduction can put the copy of the original into situations which would be out of reach for the original itself” (39).  While this can sometimes be a good thing, in the sense that reproduction has the ability to reach those who may not, under normal circumstances, be able to see the work, on the other hand, reproduction takes away from the feeling that one gets when actually viewing the original work.  There is a loss of emotion when viewing a reproduction, compared to viewing the original.