Benjamin and Aura
from Toward Relative Art & Technology
Definition of aura
- An aura is a kind of "unique presence" or "sense of distance" that a work of art possesses.
- The sense of "only here" or "something special for this moment" when looking at a natural landscape or a work of art hits the aura.
Relationship to Reproduction Technology
- Benjamin's famous article, "Works of Art in the Age of Reproduction Technology" (1936), states that the development of reproduction techniques such as photography and film has resulted in the loss of aura.
- We believed that with reproduction technology, works of art lose their "uniqueness" because they are mass-produced and detached from their spatial and temporal context.
Effects of aura loss
Collapse of traditional values
- The loss of the aura makes the work of art independent of its ritual or religious context and facilitates direct contact with the audience.
Possibility of politicization
- As the public gains access to works of art through reproduction techniques, art is more likely to be used as a vehicle for political propaganda and enlightenment.
Creating new experiences
- New art forms such as film, Benjamin suggests, have the potential for "collective experience" and "social critique" that differ from the traditional aura.
Benjamin's aura theory provides an important perspective on the relationship between art and technology, and it also provides a clue to the state of art in today's digital culture.
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