Week 3: Robotics + Art
Industrialization has deeply impacted and revolutionized the way art is produced, disseminated, and consumed. Mechanical reproduction such as the printing press has revolutionized “...the way people conceive and describe the world they live in and ushering a production of mass production and knowledge exchange”(Vesna). While this accessibility may sound advantageous, the printing press and later photography, film, and digital media, came with tremendous trade-offs.
To help us delve deeper into the interplay between art and technology, Walter Benjamin offers a thought-provoking analysis of this topic. In his book, Benjamin highlights how mechanical reproduction technologies spoil artworks of their aura. Mechanical reproduction technologies on the other hand diminish the uniqueness of pieces challenging traditional notions of art value and function. In his piece, Benjamin claims, “Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be” (Walter 1). In other words, Benjamin preaches that to understand and appreciate a piece of art, the audience must analyze it exactly where it was intended to be presented (McLaverty-Robinson). Yet, mechanical reproduction takes this form away. Benjamin's insight highlights how mass production fundamentally alters the relationship between art and its audience. For example, in an article by the Smithsonian, Noah Charney speaks on the convenience of forgery artwork stating “They [art vieweres] might not think that the work is better, but it is unarguably more convenient to access” (Charney). As a result, mechanical reproduction technology is convenient and accessible but lacks the charm of real work.
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Counterflow Distro, 2023.
Charney, Noah. “Has the Incredible Accuracy of Art Reproduction Ruined the Way We Experience Masterpieces?” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 23 Aug. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/are-replicas-changing-way-we-experience-art-180960224/.
McLaverty-Robinson, Andy. “Walter Benjamin: Art, Aura and Authenticity.” Ceasefire Magazine, 2 July 2013, ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/walter-benjamin-art-aura-authenticity/.
Vesna, Victoria. "Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic / Robot Art." Lecture Part 2
“Walter Benjamin’s ‘the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.’” AH 331 History of Photography Spring 2021 Compendium, scalar.chapman.edu/scalar/ah-331-history-of-photography-spring-2021-compendium/arsema-girmay-essay-3#:~:text=By%20technical%20or%20mechanical%20reproduction,by%20an%20even%20larger%20audience. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Whart. Effects of Mechanical Reproduction, 18 June 2011, whart.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/96/.
Hi Mallory, I really like how you tie in mass production of art and how it alters and under values the work that has been and is being done. It makes me think about fast fashion and how we value our clothing less because they are mass produced. Overall, thoroughly enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteHi Mallory,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughtful response. I also wrote about Walters Idas on authenticity of art work. In my own writing I did not go into as much depth as you did about his discussion but I am happy that you did. When I was reading about Walters I just assumed he did like the idea of reproducing artwork because it was a copy but I loved how you bought out the point of instead it violates the true meaning of the art work. In order to an art piece to get its full value it needs to be appreciated and felt by the audience it was created for. The value in this authenticity is almost fully lost because with reproduction people anywhere at anytime can see a piece of art put onto the internet.
Hi Mallory, I really enjoyed reading your response. You went really in depth with your discussion and I learned so much! Similar to what you said the interplay between art and technology has really reshaped the world of art. I love what you mentioned about Walter Benjamin. I feel like a lot of these people had either similar or completely different thoughts on this "new era" of art. Like you said Benjamin felt that these new mechanical reproductions altered what real art was. While other artist such as the artist from Chapman University felt that it allowed for art to be more inclusive. I feel like art would not be the same if it weren't for new inventions like photography, film, and especially digital media. Especially now in the year 2024 a lot of art can be seen online and thats how artist have gotten bigger audiences. Thank You and I look forward to reading the rest of your blog posts this quarter!!
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