(in correspondence with The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin)
one.
Benjamin addresses the value behind a variety of art mediums, from traditional painting to photography, by comparing individual and unique pieces to mass produced works. What Benjamin fails to mention is with processes such as engraving, often times an artist will mark an "X" across their work so it cannot be reproduced beyond the intended amount of copies. With this procedure implemented, an artist will experience what it is like to deface their own work in order to preserve it - something that many artists of traditional mediums will not have to endure. Though mass produced, by destroying the original template, should each of the existing prints be recognized as mere copies or works of fine Art?
two.
Benjamin identifies that original works of Art by traditional mediums have a unique aura to each of them, whereas mass produced works from film and photography lack such a presence. With our current day technology, we're primarily exposed to masterpieces that reside in prestige museums by photographs. Do these shared images of original works carry the same sense of aura, or does the photograph extract it?
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