What Walter Benjamin Taught Me About Fashion

"The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" (1935), by Walter Benjamin, is an essay of cultural criticism which proposes and explains that mechanical reproduction devalues the aura (uniqueness) of an objet d'art, and that in the age of mechanical reproduction and the absence of traditional and ritualistic value, the production of art would be inherently based upon the praxis of politics. Written during the Nazi régime (1933-1945) in Germany, Benjamin presents a theory of art that is "useful for the formulation of revolutionary demands in the politics of art" in a mass culture society.
The subject and themes of Benjamin's essay: the aura of a work of art; the artistic authenticity of the artefact; its cultural authority; and the aestheticization of politics for the production of art, became resources for research in the fields of art history and architectural theory, cultural studies, and media theory.
The original essay, "The Work of Art in the Age of its Technological Reproducibility", was published in three editions: (i) the German edition, Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit, in 1935; (ii) the French edition, L'œuvre d'art à l'époque de sa reproduction mécanisée, in 1936; and (iii) the German revised edition in 1939, from which derive the contemporary English translations of the essay titled "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction".
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[@SamMerchant-vn4or]

Excellent! It's not easy to summarise this book!

[@weatherlylinn-adams2353]

Sort of! That's one reading but not the one i personally gravitate towards. When art becomes democratized, the dichotomy between original and copy dissolves, art loses its "aura", but I don't think Benjamin thinks this is *bad*, or that it could/should be reversed. He critiques the age of mechanical reproduction in order to draw out some essential elements and formulate political conclusions, but isn't exactly taking a moral stance on this age. Instead of "consumers think they have the talent to be producers", it's more that "consumers now have an unprecedented ability to engage in artistic production", and this could have revolutionary potential.

[@h.l.8244]

Thanks for the recommendation 🙏

[@sildaz]

I never expected to see Walter Benjamin here, but I when I think about it it makes sense

[@yoanavega560]

i had to read for my theory class at uni in german...but its so crucial to read this if you are in a field of art and design,

[@semiotxt]

is that really the main takeaway of this book though

[@guyafrica7894]

seems like a great recommendation man. thanks

[@PilarNarvaezalvarez]

Benjamin is a must. He was incredible. His other writings as well.