Walter Benjamin on Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility

Dr. Ellie Anderson, philosophy professor and co-host of Overthink podcast, breaks down Walter Benjamin's famous (and somewhat challenging!) essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility", exploring key concepts such as the aura, cultic/exhibition value, and politicizing art. How did technologies of reproduction change art and how we perceive it? Textbook is Aesthetics: A Comprehensive Anthology reader, ed. Cahn and Meskin (Blackwell, 2008).

This video is part of a series introducing philosophers' views of art and aesthetics.

For more from Dr. Anderson, check out Overthink on YouTube, or listen to our conversational podcast wherever you get your podcasts. We've got numerous audio podcast episodes on the philosophy of art!

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[adamh]

1.Benjamin discusses the concept of "aura, " which refers to the unique presence of a work of art in time and space. The reproducibility of art through photographs and film challenges the notion of aura, as reproductions lack the original work's unique existence.
2. The shift from cult value to exhibition value, where art is no longer tied to rituals and magic, but becomes something to be viewed by the masses.
3. The film actor performs for the camera, detached from a live audience. Film actors, unlike stage actors, represent themselves rather than embodying a character, leading to the development of a cult of personality around them. However, this loss of aura for film actors is compensated by the audience's identification with the camera, which Benjamin sees as antithetical to cult value.

[DemetriosKongas]

This distinction between cult/magic and exhibition in art is interestingly manifested in the different words used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for sculpture - agalma and statua respectively. For the Greeks a piece of sculpture was an agalma from agalesthai meaning to delight, to take pride in, whereas for the Romans it was a statua from stare which means to stand (in a corner?).

[DemetriosKongas]

It is amazing how the mechanical reproduction of music in records, cds and youtube etc has not obliterated live music, photography has not obliterated painting and, most importantly, the cinema has not obliterated theatre. As a matter of fact, theatre, live music and even painting have thrived. People still want and seek the unique and the challenging, despite pop culture which is formulaic and escapist.

[fernhausluv]

Yes!! Have been waiting for Overthink to cover Benjamin for a while. Think you did a great job so far! :)

[robertalenrichter]

The thing is, even today, a painting looks different in person. The root of “Zerstreuung” is “spreading, scattering” i. e. when sowing seeds in a field. Interesting word for being entertained.

[MultiLeandrini]

Thank you so much! I had heard of Benjamin's work but never really understood quite well what he worked on, and in the sea of material to read I thought he wasn't worth the time. You have changed my mind and now he is one of my priorities! Thank you again, I really love the work you've been doing. I can't contribute financially but I hope that my likes, comments and the few shares do help you and your goal!

[ForeverTensed]

Happy to come across this video. I like the way you explain.

[shacharias]

For anyone new to this essay or looking to better understand it, take note that Benjamin's discussion of "cult value" is somewhat analogous to Marx's concept of "commodity fetishism." The traditional work of art is only useful within the cult and has no other apparent use-value. Indeed, it is precisely the belief in "art for art's sake, " as posited by the Decadent, Aestheticist, and Symbolist movements, in which Benjamin finds a "theology of art." It works quite in tandem with Benjamin's argument in an earlier short essay that capitalism is a religion.

[a.e.jabbour]

Fascinating. I will say this: When I first saw the Mona Lisa in person, about 20 (?) years ago, I had a very powerful emotional response. One that surprised me, in fact. Like anyone else, I had seen the image 1000s and 1000s of times before I finally made it to Paris. So that sort of emotional effect really kind of shocked me. Don't quite know where that fits in with The Aura, but it was certainly intense.

I remember reading and thinking about Benjamin a lot back when I was in school, six million years ago. I hadn't really studied him much since, though. So I'm thankful for this, in that it has renewed a nearly lost interest in me, for sure.

[annabelmcgannon]

thank you so much for making these ideas so understandable! as a photographer i truly appreciate it

[Depressed_Dinosaur]

Feel like there should be a part two...

[biscuitmeetsgravy]

I'm curious if similar discussions were being had about mechanical reproduction when the printing press came about. Similarly, interesting to think of whether a poet putting pen to paper is alienated compared to their forebears in the oral tradition.

[artlessons]

Thank You! Being an artist and teacher I enjoyed this, and can relate to it!

[XrsN]

Art derives its value through its uniqueness and technology from its unlimited ability to be reproduced. Art is distinguished from technology in that the instructions and expression are one and the same whereas technology and the instructions to make it are separate.

[salifscott]

Your videos have inspired me to pursue philosophy!

[kerryarrant]

In Anthropology, objects that have no utility / useful value often are viewed as religious artifacts.

[clareblatchford-hanna]

Interesting that some actors do have a real audience and physical relationship with their viewers, but they are also being filmed eh. Sitcoms in particular I guess I’m considering, I wonder if the aura is present but then not present when viewed on screen? But also have to consider that tech is not what it was then in 1930s so his considerations would have been limited to in person events or simply film

[kourtneyhicks]

bless! you are helping me pass my final

[nickjerrat]

hmm reminds me of discussions in intellectual property law

[shyamasingh]

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