Robotics + Art

Cover of Walter Benjamin's "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"

In "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction", Walter Benjamin explores the effects advances in technology has had on the production of art in modern day times. According to Professor Vesna, this essay has been "influential across the humanities, and especially in the fields of cultural studies, media theory, architectural theory and art history." He discusses the way art has been received since the technological progression. Much of his writing refers to mechanization. Mechanization is the process of either replacing human labor with machinery or making something mechanical in nature. It has been a major factor in industrialization. 

                                                    

Walter Benjamin

Benjamin strongly believes that mechanization has changed the nature of art. Art as he describes it, has a unique authenticity. "One might subsume the eliminated element in the term 'aura' and go on to say that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art." Mechanization eliminates this aura and produces an endless stream of copies of the same image or object. This takes away the originality of the artwork. He uses photography and film as examples and even compares a the "work" of a cameraman to that of an artist. 

 

Mechanization Involving A Printing Press

Despite many negative outlooks on mechanization and these technological advances, he understands that this could lead to more accessible and inclusive art forms. This would allow art to reach larger audiences, and artists would be able to control the overall production of the art. 

Works Cited

Artdoc magazine - the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction, Walter Benjamin. Artdoc Magazine - The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Walter Benjamin. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.artdoc.photo/books/the-work-of-art-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction-2

Engraving man and child working at Printing Press 1882 Stock Photo: Royalty-free. Freeimages. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.freeimages.com/premium/engraving-man-and-child-working-at-printing-press-1882-1011771

UCLA. (n.d.). Industrialization, Robotics, Kinetic/robotic art. Retrieved April 19, 2023.

Walter Benjamin (2). Discogs. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.discogs.com/artist/1228676-Walter-Benjamin-2

Walter Benjamin's the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. (2018). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781912284894