Cameraman
There is a cameraman in the essay, who foregrounds a specific part of a painting through his pictures and divert our attention to a particular side of the story. He interferes with the sight of the spectator and compels him/her to watch what he wants. It intercedes with the observation of the audience and distracts his/her observation. The film is another form of diversion which is recorded by the cameraman. It has transformed the audience into a critic and the scenes continue whether the spectator has seen them or not. The pictures which the cameraman takes do not possess an authenticity or uniqueness because they are the copy of the original or as Plato says, ‘the copy of a copy.’
Painter
The author has demonstrated a painter who has a connection with his paintings. The paintings are the old form of art which are being replaced by the modern art in the form of pictures. The painter had a historical and aesthetic relation with his work, and he did not intercede with the observation of the spectator. The paintings have an aura and cult qualities within them. They were not a part of the mechanical reproduction of art. The painter has been compared with a magician, who keeps distance from his work while the cameraman has been compared with a surgeon who gets indulge in his work.
Art
Art is employed as a
character by the author because it has been personified as a person. Art
possesses the qualities of consuming humans, manipulating them and diverting
their attention. Walter Benjamin has compared the old and modern forms of art
along with discussing their qualities and potential. The old art was unique,
confined, valuable and mesmerizing. However, the modern art has the ability to
manipulate the masses and it is available to general public because of being
exhibited by the artists. Click Here for next Digit
Eugene Atget
The author has mentioned the photographer of Paris Eugene Atget, who took the pictures of empty streets of Paris, but they seemed like they were the photographs of crime scenes. The author says, “It has quite justly been said of him that he photographed them like scenes of crime.” This is how a photographer intercedes with the observation of the spectator. He propagates a specific ideology irrespective of the reality. The modern art form and the artists can change the reality through their cameras.
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Introduction and Historical Information
Background
Summary - I
Summary - II
Summary - III
Analysis - I
Analysis - II
Walter Benjamin and Important Artists and Artworks
- What is meant by 'Aura'?
- What is exhibition value?
- How is art being used as a tool of manipulation?
- What are the benefits of modern art form?
- What does Benjamin mean by the aura of an artwork?
- What does mechanical reproduction mean?
- What is the main point of Walter Benjamin's article?
- What is the difference between manual and mechanical or technical reproduction of art How is the original work distinguished from a reproduction?
- What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art?
- Is Aura a word?
- Does art reproduction have value?
- What is technological reproduction?
- What is definition of art?
- Can art be mechanically reproduced?
- How does the idea of the aura relate to perception?
- When did Walter die?
- What is an original work of art?
- Can the visual arts preserve memories?
- What did Walter Benjamin do?