When something is reproduced for so many times is that art? What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society?
Art is never absolute. People have different understandings when it comes to arts. Anything that considered as an art should, and will, be subjected to open interpretation by others who view it. As far as I consider, even though something is reproduced for many times, it can still be an art. The nature of art cannot be simply denied by how many times it has been reproduced or the quantity it exists. Although I do agree that some arts are more treasurable and valuable than others, and this might be measured based on its reproducibility and quantity. Original works of art are unique and authentic, and the aura of an original piece of work is its true essence which cannot be reproduced mechanically.
According to Walter Benjamin (1935), “the presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity.”; “the whole sphere of authenticity is outside technical—and, of course, not only technical—reproducibility.”; “confronted with its manual reproduction, which was usually branded as a forgery, the original preserved all its authority.”
Walter Benjamin (1935) also expressed that “with the different methods of technical reproduction of a work of art, its fitness for exhibition increased to such an extent that the quantitative shift between its two poles turned into a qualitative transformation of its nature. Only later did it come to be recognized as a work of art.” A simple explanation would be: the accent of the reproduction of art is on its exhibition value; as the quantity increases along with its exhibition value, the quality of the work considered being higher; then, it is recognized as an art.
Along with the mechanical reproducibility make arts more accessible to the public, the concept of reproducibility, however, does cause negative impacts on society by way of counterfeiting. Nowadays, the issues of counterfeit goods are affecting the world’s economy on a global basis. The conducts of reproduce a particular piece of work without authorization are affecting society as whole.
Is photography art or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists?
Art is defined differently by individuals.
Britannica Online defines art as "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others. (Art, n.d.) "
Wikipedia defines art as “product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression. (Art, n.d.) "
No matter according to which definition, photography is definitely art, and it can also be a contribution to art.
There has been an auguring whether the very invention of photography had not transformed the entire nature of art. However, I think there is no certain restriction when it comes to the nature of art. Photography is not just an image; it is a way to capture and express modes, emotions, characteristics, and other invisible elements as well as external aspects. It is a tool, but not just!
Henry Pitch Robinson generated his most famous print "Fading Away" in 1858. It depicts the peaceful death of a young girl due to tuberculosis. Her grieving family, her sister, mother, and fiancé precisely, are shown surrounding her (Labedzki, 2009). The print was made from five negatives. The model in the picture was a fine health fourteen year old girl, and the picture was done to see how near death she could be made to look. Although, the photograph was the product of Robinson's imagination and the subjects are merely posing to create a touching albeit a realistic portrayal of a grieving family, many viewers felt that using a traditionally 'truthful' medium as photography to depict such a scene in falsity was too painful and shocking (Labedzki, 2009).
Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization?
With the development of photographic technology, photography has become a huge impact worldwide. As a form of art, photography is more accessible than any others. Through digitalization, photos can be easily manipulated and reproduced. Digital photography captures the image which is then stored as a digital file ready for digital processing, viewing or printing. The number of prints can be made at will, and there is no such concept as the “authentic” print. Moreover, photograph can be shared easily through web and other electronic devices. Digitalization affects globalization greatly and makes business, advertisement, journalism, and even communication easier than ever.
References
Art. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art#Art.2C_class.2C_and_value
Benjamin W. (1935). The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm
Labedzki A. (2009, Aug. 19) His Most Famous Photograph (Fading Away) - Henry Peach Robinson. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from http://ezinearticles.com/?His-Most-Famous-Photograph-(Fading-Away)---Henry-Peach-Robinson&id=2785850
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