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Walter Benjamin, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” – Response
This piece though somewhat dense, still seems quite relevant when discussing the behavior and nature of mass media. Walter Benjamin’s keen observation on the effect of technological tools upon communication in modern culture has been extremely influential such a profound way that we almost take it for granted.
Some of the more interesting aspects of the text to my perspective would be the dissection and analysis of art and the masses. Art or publications that are by definition intended for and cannot exist without a critical mass of people.
Cinema is such a medium, and is discussed by Walter Benjamin to great extent. A curious thing happened to me while reading his ideas as scenes from the latest Quentin Tarantino kept creeping into my head persistently. *Inglorious Bastards, Tarantino’s newest installment is a staggering demonstration the cinematic.
Besides masterfully manipulating the viewer gaze, stretching time and skillfully smacking the viewer on the head, brings out even more interesting thoughts. The use of cinema as propaganda for one, and the immense influence and brut force of such medium, at a period in which it’s nature had only began to unveil. The link between fascism and art as a mutated form of ancient idol worship is a fascinating one. There is obviously a lot more to be said on this issue…

One final observation: It would seem, perhaps, that the supposedly deceased ‘aura’ lost through the use of technology, somehow finds it’s way back into the arts in mysterious ways, sneaking from the back door or even projects onto something else (the celebrity film star, the dictator). And it does so perhaps because it is essential.

* I deliberately avoid summarizing the film, since that would defeat the point and most likely fail miserably. I do however urge anyone that hasn’t seen it, to do so.