Walter Benjamin

1. Walter Benjamin • Full name: Walter Bendix Schönflies Benjamin • 15 July 1892 – 26 September 1940 • Berlin, German Empire • “Europe last intellectual”

2. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction •  a 1936 essay • 3 script is being written • <The Origin Of German Tragic Drama>, <One Way Street>

3. In principle a work of art has always been reproducible.  Ancient Greek Middle Ages 19 century Founding & Stamping Engraving, Etching & Woodcut Photography Lithography Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Founding & Stamping Photography Photography Lithography Lithography Lithography Lithography bronzes, terra cottas, and coins  sound film script printing graphic art

4. Keyword: authenticity Keyword: authenticity Keyword: authenticity The whole sphere of authenticity is outside technical – and, of course, not only technical – reproducibility. Technical Production VS Manual Production process reproduction is more independent of the original than manual reproduction can put the copy of the original into situations which would be out of reach for the original itself

5. Keyword: aura The desire of contemporary masses to bring things “closer” spatially and humanly, which is just as ardent as their bent toward overcoming the uniqueness of every reality by accepting its reproduction.

6. Keyword: cult & exhibition value Two polar types stand out; with one, the accent is on the cult value; with the other, on the exhibition value of the work.

7. To be continued ......