What is the main idea of the article The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction?

“The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (1935), by Walter Benjamin, is an essay of cultural criticism which proposes and explains that mechanical reproduction devalues the aura (uniqueness) of an objet d’art.

How has art changed in the age of mechanical reproduction?

In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. With the woodcut graphic art became mechanically reproducible for the first time, long before script became reproducible by print. The enormous changes which printing, the mechanical reproduction of writing, has brought about in literature are a familiar story.

What is the main point of Walter Benjamin’s article?

The effect of manipulation and mass production on an original artwork or on its ‘aura’ is the major discussion point for Benjamin in his essay. His predictions of this impact state two points — Firstly, the art will lose it’s uniqueness and value under the influence of mass production.

What does Benjamin think about the idea of mechanical reproduction?

Benjamin acknowledges the reality of artistic reproduction throughout history, although he suggests that mechanical reproduction introduced an entirely new and revolutionary change in the experience of the artwork (218).

When was a work of art summary?

When I Was a Work of Art (Lorsque j’étais une oeuvre d’art) is a novel by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, a Belgian dramatist and writer. The novel tells the story of a young man who gives up his humanity to an artist, who transforms the young man into a work of art.

Does art reproduction have value?

Some are of high quality and are almost identical to the original. The majority of reproductions of famous paintings have little value. Some reproductions of paintings do have commercial value, particularly if they were published as limited editions. Supply and demand may mean that they increase in value.

What is the meaning of mechanical reproduction?

The mass production of identical copies of a text using technological means (i.e. printing). The phrase is particularly associated with Benjamin’s 1936 essay, ‘The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction’ (see aura).

What are the benefits of mechanical reproduction in art?

The main benefit of such reproductions is its ability to increase the accessibility of famous artworks, which many may not have access to due to physical or financial restrictions.

Is art reproduction good or bad?

Inevitably, the technical reproduction of art destroys the original meaning of a work and fragments its meaning to the different contexts of ordinary human life. Furthermore, a reproduction of an artwork is insufficient in capturing the true beauty of works in their aesthetic form.

How is art reproduction beneficial?

Benefits of Reproductions:

1. It allows the artists to continue to generate income from a work whether the original has been sold or not.
2. Allows more people to have access to a single piece.
3. Allows the artist to retain ownership of the original and only sell reproductions should they wish.

What is the value of art reproduction?

Reproductions and Art Value – are some of the most heavily reproduced images of all time. Reproductions are an excellent way of developing your market of buyers – they make your work more accessible to beginning collectors.

Can you sell reproduction art?

Reproductions – You can sell reproductions, like posters or exact replica paintings, if it doesn’t violate laws, copyrights, or trademarks. Exact replica paintings – You have to clearly state it’s a reproduction in the listing title and description.

What was Art in the age of Mechanical Reproduction?

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction WALTER BENJAMIN “Our fine arts were developed, their types and uses were established, in times very different from the present, by men whose power of action upon things was insignificant in comparison with ours.

How did Walter Benjamin describe the age of Mechanical Reproduction?

Walter Benjamin – The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Works of art have always been reproducible, through imitation. Mechanical reproduction characterizes a new period in reproduction, with new limits and repercussions.

Why is photography a form of Mechanical Reproduction?

Hence, photography, as a form of Mechanical Reproduction, emancipates the work of art from its dependence on ritual: “Instead of being based on ritual, it [art] begins to be based on another practice- politics” (224). A traditional work of art constitutes a similarly discrete tangible experience, as Benjamin claims.

How is a work of art always reproducible?

In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. Man-made artifacts could always be imitated by men. Replicas were made by pupils in practice of their craft, by masters for diffusing their works, and, finally, by third parties in the pursuit of gain. Mechanical reproduction of a work of art, however, represents something new.