Walter Benjamin: “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."

                “These technical developments in the reproduction of art lead to a “quantitative shift between its two poles” and cause a “qualitative transformation of its nature." What he means by that is that artistic production could be analyzed as having a "cult value" and "exhibition value"–the two poles. The cult value refers to its status in magic and rituals; exhibition value refers to the content or the "information" contained within the piece, literally by showing or exhibiting it. Although both values are always present one is always stronger than the other and until modern times, the cult value of art (which supports social order by making it seem mystical) tended to dominate, but reproduction of art in ever greater numbers has caused this to shit so much, that the defining quality of art now tends to emphasize exhibition value over cult value. This is the framework by which Benjamin analyzes art, and he is suspicious of any attempt to recreate "cult value" under the modern conditions of production. One form in which this takes is fascism; the other is the American entertainment system–Hollywood by this time had already been established.  Emil Jannings, I already mentioned, star of The Blue Angel and later celebrity of the Nazi regime won the first Academy Award for Best Actor in 1928.”

                In “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (1934) Walter Benjamin noted how new technologies of cultural production such as photograph, film and radio have change the view on art and media of older culture. He shows that technological reproduction has a standard that transmits work of art to change the impact on the public. He discusses how the reproduction of art and film affect traditional forms.

                One can see the points he brought up during his discussion about stage and screen. H discusses the idea that work of art can be view on two different levels. This he calls cult value and exhibition value. He analyze that a reproduction of art has change the quantity and quality between both cult value and exhibition value. According to the passage, Benjamin shows that it is meaningless to ask for an original photo because reproduction makes it difficult to use these images, he points out that exhibition value communicate a lot of strong information. He shows that mass media gives a more realistic view of the world; people will be better able to communicate with other. He is also concern with the loss of tradition in life.

                Benjamin article is interesting; he uses the development of the work of art to explain his thought about humanity, social, economical and traditional changes. For Benjamin, the creation of mass art, especially in film help expose political issues, commercial capitalist and relate to social order. Through film people of different society can visualize a relationship.

               

 Questions

(1)    The difference between cult value and exhibition value is that one dominates the other. Benjamin reveals that mechanical reproduction has change the dominance of cult value. The exhibition value is dominating cult value in quality. Cult value is the value of an artistic production within the service of cult. People creates ceremonial object for cult and ritual purposes. It deals with magical and ritual status. While exhibition value is the value of an object exhibited or presented publicly. It refers to the contents of information contained within the piece, literally by showing it. Benjamin relates this value to politic in that political forces use art to express and stress their ideas more naturally and realistically. Just as technology reproduction change the domain of cult value, it is able to change political views in regard to despotism. It acts as a tool of social and political consciousness. The creation of mass art mainly through film would bring images of the current world to the masses and would help raise political awareness and scrutinize the world. It helps to destroy the historic dominant of class in society and allow people to see the universal equality.

(2)    The difference between Erfahrung (integrated experience) and Erlebnisse (isolated experience) is the opposite each other. The shows that integrated experience was a fuller and more develop “mode” than isolated experience. Integration occurs by understanding the historical origins of object of contact.  It establishes continuity or connation between experiences. While isolated experience suggest that objects are encountered in isolation and usually hostile. It sees no connection between one experiences or another. This relates to art in that the experience of art changes when it is reproduced. The historical context is loss.

(3)    Some positive effects of the destruction of the “aura” in art are that the standard art, photograph and film improved allowing for motion and sound creating new experience; this Benjamin shows that to destroy the mystical art is positive development because it allows one to approach art in a more realistic way. It brings change and exposes hidden details of familiar object.  It also allows people to see “the universal equality of things; negative effects of the destruction of the aura in art includes loss of uniqueness and quality. It diminishes the integrated experience.

(4)    To evaluate the impact of the forms of mass culture like film in contemporary life, one can see the effect it has brought changes. It encourage individuals to adjusts and change to new conditions of mass society. Film have change human perception. It is an important part of creating political consciousness public. It expresses social and political ideas. It gives expressions economic and social depiction of human suffering to groups and individuals who would not be able to express themselves.