April 8, 2012
The Disappearance of Aura
Walter Benjamin discusses the concept of aura and how it is this unique quality that is often given to artwork. He states that, "the desire of contemporary masses to bring things "closer" spatially and humanly," (Benjamin 1236). The idea that aura is somehow related to this desire brings me to question how relatable it is to the modern day society. To bring things closer seems to be a idea that is in odds with the American society. The idea of individualism is strong within the American society. Going back to the concept of aura, if following along with Benjamin's ideas, it's disappearance seems to be evident in American society today. The advancement of industrialization and the lack of uniqueness in the products around us lack the aura that Benjamin describes. Although there is not a complete lack of aura, due to religious objects and objects made by small-time artisans, the advancing of the society in capitalist mass production seems to predict the gradual disappearance of aura in American society. Will it ever be completely gone? I don't think so, but I predict that it will come extremely close. But because I am not a seer of any sort, this might be, what one may call, a wild hypothesis or crazy prediction.
1 comment:
That is an interesting question, Eric. I also found myself wondering whether or not Benjamin's definition of aura condemns modern American society, especially with the uniformity you mentioned. One alternative way of looking at it that I picked up during class on the 6th is that "the advancement of industrialization and the lack of uniqueness in the products around us," can be seen as a recreation of the designs/ industrial feats of the past. As you noted, there is not a complete lack of aura, even under this standard. I do believe, however, that these modern creations can, under Benjamin's definition, serve to strengthen the "original." I don't think that aura will dissipate either... partially because the very idea of it seems somewhat melancholy and depressing... but mainly because each and every thing we construct, recreation or not, has something unique, (no matter how minor). This uniqueness can been seen as having an aura of its own that will be strengthened by future imitation of said detail.
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