Miller misreads Benjamin out of context. Benjamin is speaking of the experience of the original artwork, as in the presence of its aura, versus the experience of the reproduction which, because it is a (multiple) copy, excises the aura (the experiental product of original artwork and perceiver). It's not a complicated idea but it is worthy because it can ultimately enable one to situate and question the "authenticity" of the "aura" as something manifested, as in a catalytic process, by the fusion of (any) work and perceiver. The "work" in question may be other than the traditional artwork like a historic painting, sculpture. It might be a cultural icon, a cultural myth, or generic object/idea. For instance the "Wild West Cowboy" is a myth or icon or object/idea. It has an aura in imagination which vanishes in actual imagery, and thus compells more and more "mechanical reproduction" much like a quest for the Holy Grail. Fascinating stuff.
WC --- Chris Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "The presence of the original is the prerequisite to > the concept of > authenticity," writes Walter Benjamin in The Work of > Art in the Age of > Mechanical Reproduction. ' > > > This proposition does seem "crashingly > self-evident" -- except that I > suspect that there is a controversial concept of > authenticity just waiting to > be developed -- where the issue is not the accurate > attribution of artist name > and date -- but whether or not the artifact is > somehow "authentic" enough to > belong in art history. > > I've used the scare quotes here -- because this is a > very scary idea -- and > note that it is quoted as "THE concept of.." rather > than "A concept of.." -- > to suggest that it is a concept widely shared and > applied. > > It's almost impossible to discuss (Saul has already > given up)-- and it's had a > profoundly negative effect on my life as an aesthete > (because it limits access > to whatever is considered inauthentic to our times > -- which happens to include > all the things I like) > > But hopefully, this scary idea will eventually be > dragged out into the light > of reason -- and be given the proper burial that it > deserves. > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Smart Girls Secret Weapon > Read Unbiased Beauty Product Reviews, Get Helpful > Tips, Tricks and Sam > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/fc/JKFkuJO6p0CksNk5P0KldqSCa1AJLL > YpTrBcDPTsHGWpI612JRmAGw/
