T he Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Walter Benjamin(1892-1940)
The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Walter Benjamin (1892-1940)
Quotation Paul valery(1871-1945 the amazing growth of our techniques profound changes are impending in the ancient craft of the beautiful neither matter nor space nor time has been what it 加 was from time immemorial 1量量 加 We must expect great innovations to transform the m entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an Liu amazing change in our very notion of art. invention--our very notion of art. SY Innovations---technique of the arts artistic
Quotation » Paul Valery (1871～1945) » the amazing growth of our techniques » profound changes are impending in the ancient craft of the Beautiful » neither matter nor space nor time has been what it was from time immemorial. » We must expect great innovations to transform the entire technique of the arts, thereby affecting artistic invention itself and perhaps even bringing about an amazing change in our very notion of art. » Innovations――－technique of the arts――artistic invention――our very notion of art
Preface (1)Capitalism Marx directed his efforts in such a way as to give them prognostic value exploit the proletariat with increasing intensity, ultimately to create conditions to abolish capitalism itself 加 1 (2)Superstructure----substructure 1量量 加 Their dialectic is no less noticeable in the superstructure than in the economy(substructure Be useful for the formulation of revolutionary demands v (3 The value the politics of art
Preface » （1）Capitalism: Marx directed his efforts in such a way as to give them prognostic value. exploit the proletariat with increasing intensity, ultimately to create conditions to abolish capitalism itself. » （2）Superstructure----substructure: Their dialectic is no less noticeable in the superstructure than in the economy (substructure). » （3）The value: Be useful for the formulation of revolutionary demands in the politics of art
I Reproduction (1)replica: (a work of art has always been reproducible Man-made artifacts could always be imitated by men Ancient greece: founding铸造 stamping制模 Bronzes青铜器, terra cottas陶器, coins硬币 加 Middle Age: woodcut, engraving and etching.蚀刻 19c: thography平版印刷术 --(implied the illustrated am 量 newspaper 加 1839: photography-----( foreshadow the sound film) (free the hand, only upon the eye looking into a lens. (2)The standard of technical reproduction had reached A: reproduce all transmitted works B: capture a place of its own among the artistic processes
Ⅰ Reproduction （1）replica: (a work of art has always been reproducible) Man-made artifacts could always be imitated by men. Ancient Greece: founding铸造 stamping制模. Bronzes青铜器, terra cottas陶器, coins硬币 Middle Age: woodcut, engraving and etching蚀刻 19C: lithography平版印刷术----( implied the illustrated newspaper) 1839: photography-----( foreshadow the sound film) (free the hand, only upon the eye looking into a lens.) （2）The standard of technical reproduction had reached, A: reproduce all transmitted works B: capture a place of its own among the artistic processes
Around 1900 technical reproduction had reached a standard that not only permitted it to reproduce all transmitted works of art and thus to cause the most profound 加 change in their impact upon the public, itam also had captured a place of its own among 加 the artistic processes (3)Different manifestations A: reproduction of works of art B: the art of the film
» Around 1900 technical reproduction had reached a standard that not only permitted it to reproduce all transmitted works of art and thus to cause the most profound change in their impact upon the public; it also had captured a place of its own among the artistic processes. （3）Different manifestations A: reproduction of works of art B: the art of the film
皿 Authenticity &t Aura Authenticity s One element: Art work's presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. Includes: physical condition over the years &t various changes in its ownership 加 s The concept of authenticity 1量量 uu(1) The presence of the original is the prerequisite 加 (2)The whole sphere of authenticity is outside technical reproducibility. A: process reproduction is more independent of the original than manual reproduction B: technical reproduction can put the copy of the original into situations" which would be out of reach for the original itself. E (3) The essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning, ranging from its substantive duration to its testimony to the history which it has experienced
Ⅱ Authenticity & Aura » Authenticity §One element: Art work’s presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. Includes: physical condition over the years & various changes in its ownership § The concept of authenticity （1）The presence of the original is the prerequisite. （2） The whole sphere of authenticity is outside technical, reproducibility. A: process reproduction is more independent of the original than manual reproduction. B: technical reproduction can put the copy of the original into situations which would be out of reach for the original itself. (3) The essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning, ranging from its substantive duration to its testimony to the history which it has experienced
Aura s The term"". that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art 加 Reasons:(1) The technique of reproduction detaches Lamsam the reproduced object from the domain of tradition, an (2)By making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. I s Connected with the contemporary mass movements, the most powerful agent is the film, the far reaching liquidation
» Aura » §The term "aura": that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art. » Reasons: (1) The technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition. » (2) By making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. » §Connected with the contemporary mass movements, the most powerful agent is the film, the far reaching liquidation
l Aura s The mode of human sense perception changes with humanity entire mode of existence E.g. the late Roman art industry and the vienna Genesis?? So, show the social transformations expressed by these changes of perception s The concept of"aura 加 The aura of the natural ones: the unique phenomenon of a distance,m however close it may be 1量量 s The desire of contemporary masses Bring things"closer"spatially and humanly, Overcome the uniqueness of reality by accepting its reproduction s Extracts the aura A--Original: Uniqueness and permanence B--Reproduction: Transitoriness and reproducibility B extracts the aura even from A (unique object) by means of reproduction
Ⅲ Aura §The mode of human sense perception changes with humanity's entire mode of existence. E.g. the late Roman art industry and the Vienna Genesis?? So, show the social transformations expressed by these changes of perception. §The concept of "aura" The aura of the natural ones: the unique phenomenon of a distance, however close it may be. §The desire of contemporary masses Bring things "closer" spatially and humanly, Overcome the uniqueness of reality by accepting its reproduction. §Extracts the aura » A--Original: Uniqueness and permanence » B--Reproduction: Transitoriness and reproducibility » B extracts the aura even from A (unique object) by means of reproduction
/V CULT ) Uniqueness---tradition The uniqueness of a work of art is inseparable from its being imbedded in the fabric of tradition (2)Art---cult Art in tradition found its expression in the cult 加 first the magical then the religious kind (3)Authentic---ritual 1量量 加 un The unique value of the 'authentic work of art has its basis insam ritual, the location of its original use value l'art pourI'art (4)From ritual to politics mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from a its parasitical dependence on ritual 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
IV CULT (1) Uniqueness--- tradition The uniqueness of a work of art is inseparable from its being imbedded in the fabric of tradition. (2) Art---cult Art in tradition found its expression in the cult. first the magical, then the religious kind. (3) Authentic---ritual The unique value of the 'authentic' work of art has its basis in ritual, the location of its original use value. l'art pour l'art (4) From ritual to politics » mechanical reproduction emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual. » 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
the cult value the exhibition value (1)Two polar types, the cult value; the exhibition value Works of art are received and valued on different planes. Two polar types stand 加 out: with one the accent is on the cult value with the other. on the exhibition 加 value of the work. E.G., Elk, an instrument of magic Madonnas remain covered Sculptures on medieval cathedrals are invisible to the spectator on ground level
V the cult value & the exhibition value » （1）Two polar types, the cult value; the exhibition value » Works of art are received and valued on different planes. Two polar types stand out; with one, the accent is on the cult value; with the other, on the exhibition value of the work. » E.G., Elk, an instrument of magic Madonnas remain covered Sculptures on medieval cathedrals are invisible to the spectator on ground level