As we viewed the video about art and how it changes with modern technology, my group and I began to interpret the video with critical analysis and thinking. We came into a conclusion of agreeing with the video in the topic of art changing through time. The video argues Benjamin view on aura and how he was right about technology eventually pushing the authenticity away from an original painting. The video argues that different perspectives of a painting can change the entire mood setting of the tone it is trying to place on the audience.
Along with other key points Benjamin’s argument about aura brought forth to my attention that the way art is viewed by television or photographs we perceive a new form of art that is presented to us. As we see the paintings from a setting other than its original face front we can’t see the authentic emotion it gives the viewer. Benjamin’s argument became clear that technology has a large role in the misdirection of an artworks originality. Reproduction of art will always replace the real meaning of it by allowing us to see a misdirected message that we make up by judging art with our personal views. The message and aura a painting is trying to show the viewer will be different by being able to see the texture and techniques with the naked eye instead of seeing a picture of the painting on television that seems vague and hard to interpret. Benjamin explained the way art is changing today back during the period of time where pictures were still black and white. His arguments are supported by facts and statistics that prove his points on the changing of aura in a painting. My group is convinced that his views on art became very similar to ours after watching the video that expressed Benjamin’s argument.
We recently watched a video in class, which explained multiple things about art. The one topic that was the most interesting was when the narrator talked about how the movement of a camera could change the appearance of artwork. We disagree. Just because the camera is moved or zoomed in does not mean that the meaning of the piece of art is changed. It is just showing a zoomed in version of the original. It may look like a different piece but it is not. Before admiring artwork, you take a look at the artist that drew the painting and the paintings name. The painting’s name should give away what the artist was painting. For example, it would not make sense if you saw a pink picture and it was called, “Ocean.” If the painting were blue, it would make more sense. The video explains that if the camera moves closer and focuses on a small part of the drawing then it changes the picture completely. We believe that each little part of a picture represents the picture as a whole. Each small detail is there for a purpose and with that section missing, the picture would not be complete.
Even though the authors of the articles we read had multiple ideas and a strong argument, we consider ours better. When you look at a painting painted by any artist, you could stand there quietly and it will tell you a story. Each detail in art is going to tell some sort of story and when you put them all together, you come up with a beautiful painting and beautiful relation between the big picture and all of the small details.
One of Walter Benjamin’s major points was the loss of aura in reproduced art. Benjamin explains that without aura the art works loses it sense of authenticity and originality. Aura can be explained as the abstract feeling that one feels as they witness the original work of art. As mentioned the aura is something that is not tangible but felt within by each individual. However, aura will soon become obsolete by the mass reproduction of art we are creating due to the advancement in technology. Extensions to all kinds of art and media have been created as theorist Mcluhan explains in Marks Poster’s article “The Aesthetics of Distracting Media.” The greatest extension that has “extended the eye’s reach throughout the globe” is television and film. All kinds of people from all over the world are able to witness art all at the same time as Mcluhan illustrates. We must agree that art is easily accessed and is easily spread throughout all individuals all over the world or even at the exact moment but the art has no meaning without aura. Restating again, art loses complete meaning without aura. Aura is the key component of art. No significance is shown, felt, or appreciated without the art’s authenticity. As television and film advance more and more the less we will be able to experience aura. The true meaning of art is to acknowledge or enjoy the great talent and dedication that is being portrayed in the piece. Art was never meant to be unoriginal or meaningless.
To conclude, we agree with John Berger’s Ways of Seeing video. There are two main reasons that were explained previously the aura and the perspective of the camera which we did agree with John Berger. John Berger emphasized that changing the perspective of the camera changes the meaning of the painting, but in reality it is a small contribution to the big meaning of the painting. The true meaning of art is to acknowledge or enjoy the great talent and dedication that is being portrayed in the piece. Art was never meant to be unoriginal or meaningless. We agree that aura is the key point in every painting and it should not lose its originality because that is what it is value for. John Berger also explained that by zooming in or out the camera the meaning of the painting changes in contrast we believe that each little part of a picture represents the picture as a whole. Each small detail is there for a purpose and with that section missing, the picture would not be complete. Therefore no matter if you zoom in or out the painting the meaning or the way you see the painting would not change because each small part of the picture contributes to the meaning of it.
We recently watched a video in class, which explained multiple things about art. The one topic that was the most interesting was when the narrator talked about how the movement of a camera could change the appearance of artwork. We disagree. Just because the camera is moved or zoomed in does not mean that the meaning of the piece of art is changed. It is just showing a zoomed in version of the original. It may look like a different piece but it is not. Before admiring artwork, you take a look at the artist that drew the painting and the paintings name. The painting’s name should give away what the artist was painting. For example, it would not make sense if you saw a pink picture and it was called, “Ocean.” If the painting were blue, it would make more sense. The video explains that if the camera moves closer and focuses on a small part of the drawing then it changes the picture completely. We believe that each little part of a picture represents the picture as a whole. Each small detail is there for a purpose and with that section missing, the picture would not be complete.
Even though the authors of the articles we read had multiple ideas and a strong argument, we consider ours better. When you look at a painting painted by any artist, you could stand there quietly and it will tell you a story. Each detail in art is going to tell some sort of story and when you put them all together, you come up with a beautiful painting and beautiful relation between the big picture and all of the small details.
One of Walter Benjamin’s major points was the loss of aura in reproduced art. Benjamin explains that without aura the art works loses it sense of authenticity and originality. Aura can be explained as the abstract feeling that one feels as they witness the original work of art. As mentioned the aura is something that is not tangible but felt within by each individual. However, aura will soon become obsolete by the mass reproduction of art we are creating due to the advancement in technology. Extensions to all kinds of art and media have been created as theorist Mcluhan explains in Marks Poster’s article “The Aesthetics of Distracting Media.” The greatest extension that has “extended the eye’s reach throughout the globe” is television and film. All kinds of people from all over the world are able to witness art all at the same time as Mcluhan illustrates. We must agree that art is easily accessed and is easily spread throughout all individuals all over the world or even at the exact moment but the art has no meaning without aura. Restating again, art loses complete meaning without aura. Aura is the key component of art. No significance is shown, felt, or appreciated without the art’s authenticity. As television and film advance more and more the less we will be able to experience aura. The true meaning of art is to acknowledge or enjoy the great talent and dedication that is being portrayed in the piece. Art was never meant to be unoriginal or meaningless.
To conclude, we agree with John Berger’s Ways of Seeing video. There are two main reasons that were explained previously the aura and the perspective of the camera which we did agree with John Berger. John Berger emphasized that changing the perspective of the camera changes the meaning of the painting, but in reality it is a small contribution to the big meaning of the painting. The true meaning of art is to acknowledge or enjoy the great talent and dedication that is being portrayed in the piece. Art was never meant to be unoriginal or meaningless. We agree that aura is the key point in every painting and it should not lose its originality because that is what it is value for. John Berger also explained that by zooming in or out the camera the meaning of the painting changes in contrast we believe that each little part of a picture represents the picture as a whole. Each small detail is there for a purpose and with that section missing, the picture would not be complete. Therefore no matter if you zoom in or out the painting the meaning or the way you see the painting would not change because each small part of the picture contributes to the meaning of it.
Paulina Negrete, Xiomara Arnao, Eric Salgado and Elias Leon attending Cal State University, Northridge.