"The Age of Mechanical Reproduction"

In my Visual Culture class with Dr. McLandon, we read and discussed Benjamin's theories on the mechanical reproduction of art. Dr. McLandon pointed out that teaching art using slides of famous paintings is less affective than actually teaching about art in front of the art itself. So, what he did to help us understand this was every friday he taught class in Cornell Museum, to help us learn and experience real art in person. This helped to understand and put to practice the vernacular when describing artwork. I was able to experience exactly what Benjamin wrote about in which "mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art" (29).

Much like the arts, I would like to raise a point about the fashion industry. To me, fashion is wearable art. Many designers create elaborate pieces that do in fact look more like art, than wearable clothes. However, those pieces of art that are created by famous designers are these days being reproduced by the likes of stores such as Forever21 and H&M. These articles are created for the masses at a cheaper price with cheaper materials. These clothes are so similar to the eye that it is hard to tell the difference original work and a copy. This is has become a problem for some designers who have taken note, because these stores are stealing from their own creative work, without giving any recognition. For instance, Gwen Stafani has sued Forever21 for replicating her clothes. 

For me, this is similar to that "essence" one gets from seeing a famous painting in person. While a reproduction still looks the same, and as Benjamin points out it still "represents something new", that aura is taken away. For me that "aura" that Benjamin describes is the realness of the painting. Being able to see the brush strokes, and the other details that a real painting allows you to see. Where as, a reproduction such as a print enables one to visually see the image but not the essence behind it.