1 – Walter Benjamin talks about how the method of modern mechanical reproduction caused art pieces to lose their uniqueness and thus their “aura”. Does he mean to say that by taking a photograph of the art, it loses its categorization as art? or is it that viewing a photo of an art piece causes people to lose touch with the aura of the original art piece because they are one step removed from the object?

2 – I was intrigued by his discussion of film as a new art medium, and the issues it causes in relation to older/historic art forms. Does Benjamin consider Film to be art on the same plane as these historic mediums (ex. sculpture) or does he believe they hold a different type all together? Is art even the right word to use, should it have a new word meaning art which has this new layer of removal from the audience through mechanical reproduction?

3 – Marshall Mcluhan talks about electric light as a medium. His use of “electric time” as a defragmentation of the industrial production society that was created before it’s invention was a little confusing. Also, his description of electric light as a medium. Does he mean that “they eliminate time and space factors” by physically extending work times and work space, or something deeper?