Replicas of Replicas

Walter Benjamin states, "The authenticity of a thing is the essence of all that is transmissible from its beginning, ranging from its substantive duration to its testimony to the history which it has experienced, (Benjamin 1235)."

I think that this one line alone packs quite a punch.  This line seems to describe how societies across the world, most notably America, has changed.  The description that Benjamin gives for "the authenticity of a thing" gives light to how people perceive different things.  Capitalist society today is focused on buying and selling goods, in which these goods are built from factories and such.  Although my point may get confusing at this point, I want to dive into the idea of whether these products that are made can be considered 'authentic'.  The changing of society's perspectives is obvious for the ideals and morals that are held today are different from a society fifty years ago.  When it comes to authenticity, perspective should also be held to high regard.  Benjamin talks about the "duration" as well as the "history which it has experienced."  Benjamin holds time and experience as two key points for a 'thing' to be authentic but perspective should also be noted for a society's perspectives is always changing.

*thanks to everyone who read this because it might seem like a lot of gibberish.