In the era of technological advancement, art has taken a big hit in terms of originality and distinctiveness. It has allowed people to have the ability to obtain rare works of art and to also have the opportunity to view them. In the passage, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” by Walter Benjamin, it states that “…the technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition”. This process has caused many forms of art to, as Benjamin would say, lose its aura. The aura that art works consist of is rare and very unique. The aura is made up of the art’s presence in time and space, its existence at the place, and its history of its existence throughout time (such as the changes it may have suffered in physical condition over the years, like changes in its ownership). Although, mechanical reproduction was able to produce new works of art as well, such as film and photography. Some may argue that the new technologies have guided us more towards a brainless society. But in the film industry’s defense, there is an art form when it comes to making film and photography. “The film responds to the shriveling of the aura with an artificial build-up of the ‘personality’ outside of the studio…” The artist is forcing the viewer to view things in their perspective, in other words, the artists are making them view their own world in a different angle and to see things they are usually not exposed to. If anything these advancements haven’t veered us towards a brainless society, but rather a society that has learned to benefit from these advancements. New art forms have arisen from these technological movements. Art forms such as Dadaism! As stated in Marshall McLuhan’s passage, “The Medium is the Message”, “The products of modern science are not in themselves good or bad; it is the way they are used that determines their value…Apple pie is in itself neither good or bad; it is the way it is used that determines its value.” Yes, technology has allowed people to replicate fine works of art, but technology has also allowed us as a society, to advance. The “message” of technology is the change of scale, pace, or pattern being introduced and woven into our daily lives. For example, the railroad; it accelerated and enlarged the scale of previous human functions. It has allowed us to create larger cities and to trade, and to transport! In other words, they would be “content” of the medium (the railroad). Another example of content and medium would be the activities we are able do due to the electric light. Without one, the other couldn’t exist. “…it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association and action.”
09.21.2015