The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Benjamin actually packs a lot into this brief essay. Written in 1935 it surveys everything from the classic arts of painting and sculpture, to photography, to cinema even to changes in the meaning of prose.To give a taste of his ideas: paintings and sculpture have lost a sense aura now that they can be so easily reproduced, art is now no longer at the service of ritual but of the state and marketplace, writing is no longer the skilled art of a few but something that anyone can participate in, Hollywood relies on the premise that it’s viewers could somehow one day be on the screen—similar to how lotteries loop you in with the premise you could win riches, etc., etc. I could go on with Benjamin’s ideas but it really is best to read it yourself if you think these sound interesting.Of course, much has changed in the arts since 1935 and not even all his insights seem accurate. Was Dadaism really an anticipation of motion pictures? Maybe, but I didn’t see the connection. But the work is evidence of the extent of creativity that marked the Frankfurt School at its best.

me llamo la atención por el contenido pero la edición dentro de libro es muy mala, digo si no te distrae tener que leer algo así esta bien, pero creo que está elevado de precio para lo que es.venia manchado en la portada, no importa pero tal vez te importe saber antes de comprarlo.

Benjamin died before he became well known. But his analysis of art in a time when text and images could be reproduced mechanically endures. It is still worth reading even in this period when art can be reproduced digitally at an instant.