About

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction is an essay by
Walter Benjamin that analyzes the cultural impact of mechanical reproduction.
This can refer to copying a sculpture by hand, snapping a digital photograph of
a painting, or recording a video of your favorite play. Although these things
often seem harmless it is important to think of the implications it has on original
artwork. Each piece of art is unique in its own space, and time; where a painting
happens to be, and when it happens to be changes the value of the piece and
makes it independent from any copy. A piece of art has its own "aura" that must
be appreciated and truly understood, a mechanical copy only takes away from the
aesthetic value of the original artwork. The cultural and social effects of mechanical
reproduction are not always noticed, these new modes of perception can mislead
us, directing us towards only a specific part of the story. This can especially be seen
in films or photographs, that only allow you to see one point of view. When thinking
about the politics of media, this can become dangerous. Although it's difficult to
live a lifestyle without mechanical reproduction, it is important to think about the
human sense of perception and how it relates to our culture and history.