The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction - Essay Example

'''''.. '''''.. '''''.. 10th March, 2008 The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction It is a well known fact that human being likes to reproduce or replicate the things those strongly inspire his intuition. Historically, the work of art has always inspired the human being and it "has always been reproducible" (Benjamin, 42), irrespective of its scale. With the development of human civilization, mechanical reproduction of a work of art was introduced. It had given a new direction to the work of art both in scale and perception.

With the passage of time, new and improved techniques were developed to reproduce or replicate the work of art. The woodcut graphic art was the first form of reproducible art. Later, the printing was introduced. Printing had brought an enormous change both in literature and ancient script. "During the Middle Ages engraving and etching were added to the woodcut and at the beginning of the 19th century lithography made its appearance" (Benjamin, 42). Lithography, enabled the graphic artists first time, to put its products on the market not only in large numbers as hitherto, but also in daily changing forms.

Nevertheless, it could not sustain too long as after a few decades lithography was surpassed buy photography. Photography, along with technical reproduction of sound later around 1900, not only accelerated the process of technical reproduction of art, but also brought it to a standard where any visual or auditory images of art can appear and disappear at a simple movement of hand. It also shadowed its strong impact on society and captured a place of its own among the artistic processes.

The mechanical reproduction techniques, enormously accelerated the reproduction work of the art, both in scale and magnitude of impact on a society. Nevertheless, the reproduced work of art could get the position of original work of art. Compare to original work, reproduced art work always lakes few important and unique things. The most important of thing is that it lacks the historical back ground. It always lacks its presence in time and space, and the unique existence of original work at the place, when it happens to be" (Benjamin, 43).

These characteristics directly relate a work of art to its originality and its historical ownership and the presence of original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity. Also mechanical reproduction of a work of art makes it more independent than the original work by highlighting few such aspects of a work that cannot be attained without an audio or visual add. Thus the technical or mechanical reproduction of a work of art put a replica of an art work far from original and it established a new parallel way of reproduction of art.

Though, the evaluation of human civilization has changed the human perception about art, yet its perceptions about the uniqueness of a work on art remained unchanged irrespective of historical circumstances. Mechanical reproduction of art also has influenced the human perception about the exhibition value of art and it has becomes a creation with entirely new functions such as artistic function. Today's photography and films are the most serviceable exemplifications of this new function.

Mechanical reproduction of art also influences the reaction of masses towards art. Their reactionary attitude changes into progressive reaction, characterized by the direct, intimate fusion of visual and emotional enjoyment with the orientation of the expert this has an enormous social significance. "Greater the decrease in social significance of an art farm, the sharper the distinction between criticism and enjoyment by public" (Benjamin, 49). Works Cited Benjamin, W.

"Extracts from the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." 42- 49.