The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction

Benjamin uses Marxist fashion to show how the transformation in art is caused by transformation in economic structure. Art assimilates the economic production but at a slow pace. The history provides that the work of art had an aura whereby people perceived the sensory distance between the artwork and the reader. But in the modern days, the aura is disappearing because art can be reproduced. For example, now a work of art can cheaply be reproduced and published through a poster. Masses don’t want to contemplate anything instead they are occupied with diversion. Nowadays the viewers are watching the work of art through distraction. Through distraction, the social media is taking people’s ability to concentrate on the necessary activities.

Loss of aura has positive and negative effects. The work of art’s authenticity, aura and uniqueness can be connected to the traditional work. Using the mechanical reproduction, art has been brought out in a way that it will be appreciated in a different sight, but the originality is lost. Ways of seeing. John Berger brings out how women have represented culturally and the results of these representations on the mutual perception and the conduct. The way of seeing brings out different ways in which women and men gazed at each other culturally. Men had a legitimate way of examining women, and the women had a legitimate way of examining other women. The camera has made the traditional work of art seem feeble.