I remember meeting with an Art Director in the Chrysler Building 20-30 years ago. He was lamenting how advertising had changed. It used to be, he was saying, that they would meet with their clients, come back and think about it a little more, maybe even give it some more time. But everything had changed. He said it was all about speed now.
I first read a mechanical reproduction (“Xerox’d”) of “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” 45 years ago. I had also heard that a true artist is no mere illustrator. And pure expressionism – seems to be a rather small palette. The tools of production are now cybernetic. While I have had paintings bought, public sculpture commissioned, music distributed, the majority of my “work” has been anonymous, graphic design work – with the very means I think Benjamin is alluding to when he speaks of an aura-less medium function as a propaganda tool. But he speaks of a democratization – that everyone can use these tools. And that’s what we see with social media – those who are prone to this sort of thing use the tools. But what is Benjamin complaining about when he critiques Art’s aura-tic authenticity? I would argue that the problem with today’s interactive mass-media is the common lack of authenticity. Anyone with an opinion, or worse, a well-financed operation with dubious intentions can espouse politics or distractions as they see fit. -- Anthony Stephenson _______________________________________________ NetBehaviour mailing list [email protected] https://lists.netbehaviour.org/mailman/listinfo/netbehaviour
