Walter Benjamin and “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”
I found it interesting when Dr. Cummings mentioned the idea of Benjamin being “lost in thought”. His analysis was pretty amazing for that time period. What he was able to understand (and quite frankly, predict) was a neat aspect to combine with this lesson. It got me thinking about timelessness. Works of art, books, movies that are considered to be timeless or classic; must- reads and must-sees that define a generation through it’s innovation in history.
A lot of the classics (“Jurassic Park” is the immediate one that comes to my mind) are able to hold their own today (in relation to when they were made). Sometimes even considered better than what should be improved on in today’s world. They revolutionized the industry and, through their breakthroughs, paved way for future projects.
It does however take the proper film to do so; the proper form of art. Using “Jurassic Park” as an example, the right story was able to be told through implementing the right technology. This project struggled and could have failed. Had that have happened, a lot would be different today. The technology used for that movie sparked a revolution in the field of entertainment. A whole new style of cinema became popular (again, this time with new meaning)- the sci-fi genre flourished.
“In principle a work of art has always been reproducible” (38).
This quote is very interesting because it is very true
There is something about originality that is so rewarding
Sometimes though, the lack of the original pulls people’s interest
For example- The hype of the Mona Lisa; the hype behind monuments (The World Wonders), new movies (for a reference that could be daily), etc
These conversations, the cultural significance behind the original draws us in to actually becoming involved with those critiquing it
We want to know more
We want a validated opinion
We want THE REAL THING; Authenticity.
With that being said,
We only understand art in terms of how it equates to society today
Ancient Art, we only presume its relevance to their society
It is hard to remove our present day bias...
This leads to my point of today being a cluster of understanding, a surplus of knowledge.
Different time periods in history have a clear inspiration point
Their development/ evolution of technology, art, and life in general are traceable and chronological. Today, there is so much that connects and intertwines that there is no way to officially, single handedly categorize things. We label them as “modern”.
This goes hand in hand with the economics behind it all.
Art, in the past, was not made for profit- not to the extent we make it out to be today.
Now, we produce media FOR money
The meaning and context certain works of art hold in history is what places such high price tags on the originals.
WE ARE CLINGING TO OLD TIMES; NOSTALGIA - The ability to appreciate something’s relevance in time. They act as A PLACE HOLDER. A CALL BACK.
Switching gears to the technical aspect, I enjoyed the segment where Benjamin dissected the evolution of cinema
Comparing Plays and Movies
PLAY
Collective unit working as one
Collective unit working as one
WHOLE SET WORKS TO GUIDE ITS AUDIENCE
The story is intentionally created for multiple perspectives- the seating does not permit for the same viewpoint and therefore interpretation for every audience member, it is physically impossible.
They use different tools to do so- similar in that sense to its digital counterpart (backgrounds, lighting, costumes, etc)
MOVIE
Works as a shared experience for all viewing
Works as a shared experience for all viewing
DIRECTS YOUR ATTENTION
The camera is in control; You are guided properly.
The camera is in control; You are guided properly.
E D I T I N G…
Hollywood Magic
Hollywood Magic
Videos that explain this notion that I found interesting and relevant:
Top 10 Most Effective Editing Moments of All Time
The Importance of Editing (article, not the video)
How Color Grading Your Photos Can Manipulate Viewer’s Emotions
HOLLYWOOD’S POWER
Some images to think about in terms of “The Culture Industry”
“The public is an examiner, but an absent minded one” (48).
Dangerous…
Constantly in search of something new
Breaking through the barriers of science, art, and morality
Understanding the value of creation; Creating a Cult… The Entertainment Industry (Universal, Disney, Apple, etc)
Post-Class (9/24)
ReplyDeleteReproduction/Propaganda
I was so impressed by this blog post, Pat. Thank you for providing all those images on media/consumer culture. They are so interesting and relate to a lot of the movements we learn about that I am really passionate about!
What I thought was most interesting was your comments on originality and surplus of knowledge. You talked about how in periods of history, the “development/evolution of technology, art, and life in general are traceable and chronological.” I agree that today’s rate of production is hard to keep track of and individual creations often seems obscure and unimportant because they get lost in the sea of other creations. I think this is a very modern/‘post-modern’ comment. It implies that we are living in a society that has extended beyond itself, with no real footing in a movement or belief.
Furthermore, it seems that people today are not as apt to appreciate originality. We tend to create ‘art’ for money rather than experiment, as you touched upon in your post. For instance, most of the TV shows given a lot of press today are money-makers and not as driven by performance. Another example is that not many people seem to appreciate plays anymore.
Some quotes that Dr. Cummings put on the PowerPoint tie into your thoughts and helped me to further understand what Benjamin was getting at. “Mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art” (45). Reproduction such as film presents an artifact of simultaneous experience for the audience (unlike theater performances for instance). This becomes a powerful tool for propaganda. Furthermore, “the public is an examiner, but an absent-minded one” (48). More and more, people seem to be driven to media for convenience.
Finally, I wonder if Benjamin’s theory of mechanical reproduction would relate to curation. In film, the cameraman/editor decides what he wants the audience to see. On social media we are able to do the same thing. We ‘curate’ what we look at everyday. I experience a completely different feed of information than my neighbor. Although this is not a simultaneous experience created by mechanical reproduction…it touches on the ideas of reproduction (images seen by thousands or millions of people) and the development of a ‘cult.’ I think both reproduction and curation relate to propaganda and demonstrate a problem with how we consume information in this day and age.