#artandmodernity

[mrinalkantimajumdar]

Kalighat Painting: The Original Pop Art of Old Calcutta

Explore the bold, satirical world of 19th-century Calcutta! We dive into Kalighat painting, India’s first “pop art.” Discover how traditiona

[sunnikailyn-blog]

Walter Benjamin “The Work of Art in the Age of Modern Reproduction”

In his essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” Walter Benjamin, a German Jewish philosopher, argues that technology will eventually shift society’s perception of art. He begins by discussing that art has always been reproducible, but those methods have been refined due to the change in times.

More specifically, Benjamin explains that mechanical reproduction has always “advanced intermittently” and “by leaps at long intervals.” In ancient times, the processes of founding and stamping were the only way to reproduce even a few items. Following came the ability to print more efficiently instead of utilizing woodcut graphic art, lithography, or film. Historically, advances toward better reproduction tools have existed, however, technology and visual media have brought into question the originality and authenticity of art itself.

Reproduction is a revolutionary principle that has both positive and negative effects. For example, Benjamin discusses that “in photography, process reproduction can bring out those aspects of the original that are unattainable to the naked eye”. In ancient time, it is understandable how a feature as such could be captivating and exhilarating. As Benjamin also asserts, photography allows the replica of artwork while simultaneously removing the concept of being unique or as he states “is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space.” Once a work of art is reproduced the focus shifts toward the number of copies versus when and where the art was created or what it was created for.

Benjamin uses the term aura to describe the notions of originality, authenticity, and exclusiveness. It is this special quality that exudes from original works of art. When the art of an object or objects are increasingly mass reproduced, its aura decreases and “withers in the age of mechanical reproduction.” A copy or replica will never contain the experience or uniqueness of the original item and indeed causes society to experience the art differently or unconventionally. For example, “changes which it may have suffered in physical condition” may not be recognizable or have the same dramatic effect as the original piece in its original setting.

Cult value seems to refer to a work of art that contains a sacredness or precious element. Benjamin uses examples such as statues and cave paintings when referring to cult value. Under cult value, it is the very existence of the art or object that holds value and is respected. Exhibition value referred to as the element to “displace cult value” places greater emphasis not on the presence of art, but on the content of the artwork itself. Modernity is the difference between the two.

The passage that compares a painter to a surgeon and a cameraman to a magician is deeply thought-provoking. It provides the assumption that one role provides real work or results while the other is only to pretend or replicate the work of the other. This concept resonates within systems in different institutions today. For example, at a university there exists professors and teaching assistants. The professors could be compared to the painter and the teaching assistants to the cameraman. The professor does the research and is required to be experienced in his/her field while also expected to provide the curriculum. The teaching assistant only works to replicate information given by the professor. The generalizability of this analogy is what makes it so powerful.