Walter Benjamin The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical...

‘The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction’: how has the reproduction of images changed the development of art? Identify three works of your choice to support your argument. This essay will start from Walter Benjamin’s consideration about the impact of mechanical reproduction of art as revolutionizing its social function and will describe the noticeable validity of his theory in the contemporary world. By introducing three artworks that belong to different historical periods, namely, the ‘Mechanical Head’ by Raoul Hausmann, ‘Furhead’ by John McHale and ‘Thirty Are Better Than One’ by Andy Warhol, the impact of photography and of the new technologies in contributing to the development of these works will be analysed. All†¦show more content†¦Raoul Hausmann, ‘Mechanical Head’: Benjamin defines the Dada movement as a clear example of the attempt to â€Å"create by pictorial – and literary – means the effects which public today seeks in the film† (Benjamin, 1968: 13). The reproducibility of art eliminates its uniqueness – its â€Å"aura† – in favour of an adaptation to the tools of modernity, transforming the role of the artist in the one of the engineer and his work in a construction. Haussman’s work moves between political criticisms, as he tries to exemplify in this head the example of the modern man, and scientific approaches, as he uses new technological techniques such as montage and photomontage as a tool for his art. John McHale, ‘Furhead’: This work is a representation of how mechanical reproduction of art leads to artworks that take the form of communicative gestures such as newspaper and demonstrates how art and non-art are interchangeable and how the role of the artist is not anymore defined by the art object itself. The shape of a face created through different fragments of magazines and postcards is a symbolic image of man that, as McHale sustains â€Å"matches up the requirements of constant change, fleeting impression and a high rate of obsolence† (McHale, 2011: 33). Andy Warhol, ‘Thirty Are Better Than One’: The last artwork is another example of how the modern world of repetition leads to theShow MoreRelatedThe Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin1263 Words   |  5 Pages While reading the article, â€Å"The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction† by Walter Benjamin, it is clear to grasp the idea being portrayed. The author is determined to prove to his readers how the advancement of humanity has led to drastic changes in how we create and perceive artwork. Mechanical reproduction of a work of art, however, represents something new. Historically, it advanced intermittently and in leaps at long intervals, but with accelerated intensity. One of the questionsRead MoreReaction Essay on Movie â€Å"Shadow Magic† and Article â€Å"the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction† by Walter Benjamin.965 Words   |  4 PagesAfter reading the article on The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin, it gives a lot of things to think about art these days and how it should be, whether the thinking of Walter Benjamin is relevant to our age of society these days is a different part of the story but how he interprets art in the article is a totally different thing, so let us view a bit about his article. â€Å"Our fine arts were developed, their types and uses were established, in times very differentRead MoreDada vs. Walter Benjamin: What Value Does Dada Have in Context of Walter Benjamins the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction?3101 Words   |  13 Pages------------------------------------------------- Unit 7. ------------------------------------------------- Dada Vs. 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And in permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation, it reactivates the object reproduced.† - Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1936) Benjamin is sayingRead MoreThe Work Of Art During The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction1057 Words   |  5 PagesIn The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction (1936), Walter Benjamin examines the mechanically reproduced art in relation to the practice of politics and shows a positive attitude toward the mechanical reproduction in modern age. 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They write about the production of cultural subject in capitalist societies, agreeing that reproduction of art has drastically changed due to mechanizationRead MoreArt and Reproduction: Joan of Arc Images Essay942 Words   |  4 Pages In the Wallach Gallery exhibition of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s sculpture (1876-1973), the viewer gets to discover different versions of the emblematic figure that is Joan of Arc, from small bronze medals, to much bigger works of art. A digital replication of the initial statue that was unveiled at Riverside Drive and 93rd Street in December 1915 is also available the public in the gallery. The success of the Joan of Arc – or The Maid of Orleans’s depictions results from the symbol that she fostersRead More Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Essay3126 Words   |  13 Pagesmuseum of art, at any given time, and one could find an abundance of monumental names l isted on tiny plaques hanging next to even more recognizable works of art. The excitement felt by any art enthusiast when walking into these buildings of time and creation, is undeniable and especially unique. Could it be the atmosphere of the building, the presence of artwork, the people, possibly the grandeur of the space, or perhaps, could it be the spirit of the artists themselves, peering through the work theyRead More Reproducibility Of Man Essay1245 Words   |  5 PagesReproducibility of Man nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When Walter Benjamin wrote The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction in 1969, I am sure he didn’t expect it to parallel the arguments of today’s discussions on the ethics of cloning. In the short shadow of the replication of Dolly the sheep, and five little piglets from Virginia comes the discussion on if this practice should really be allowed, and if so, what limits do you set? How can you look in the eyes of people who have