This is an art piece that I stubbled across while walking to the Pub to pick up a quick snack before the start of my next class, but before I went to eat I just had to take a picture of this magnificent art piece. Now originally I was going to take a trip to L.A. to a museum or a monument that was mentioned in class to write this paper on but while I was home I going threw some of my photos and came across this picture, as I looked at it it made me realize how it didn't make me feel the same way I originally felt when I first saw it and took a picture of it. I thought to myself that this was a prime example of the bases of Benjamin's article and theory of aura. In Benjamin's article "ohn Berger's Ways of Seeing,Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."is describes how art is losing its sense of aura.
What is Aura?:
Aura is a distinctive atmosphere that cannot be duplicated, when I first saw this piece of art drawn out on the ground I was filled with so much matador pride. I felt excited and blown away from the detail that was put into this piece of art I could see the different shades of blacks and reds. I could also see there action of other people equally admiring this art piece, it was beautiful. I wish I had known who had drawn this beautiful and very detailed piece of art, I know for a fact that it had to be one of Cal State Northridge's own student student because to put such detection and detail to a single pice of art which was made out of chalk from my understanding is not an easy task, one must love this school so much as to sit out there in front of hundreds of people trying to perfect a single piece of work that can be washed away in seconds. Then, days past and I went to see other art pieces around campus like photos in the geology department and the Matador statue but I did not connect with them as equally as I did with the art outside the pub. To me, it symbolized the students voice.
Reactions:
People around these other art pieces did not admire them as much as the people did admire the art piece that was fresh and original. When I went to take the picture of this art piece there were many people surrounding it, admiring it and I had heard that some people had been present when the artist was in the act of actually drowning this art piece, what an experience . I believe that this can be considered as instant aura, what better atmosphere is there than actually being at the site while the artist is being inspired. If someone such as me had shown another individual a picture of the is art work it would not even compare to the actual feeling of being at the site while the artist is drawing. You cannot see an art piece come alive threw single photo. Again, I look through my phone looking for an art piece to write this blog about each art piece gave me a different feeling but the art piece that was outside the pub stood out the most.
A Look Back:
When I went back to look at the picture of this art piece I was not blow away I was not inspired, and I did not feel happy or excited to be a matador. It was just a picture of a drawing. This is picture without aura, no originality. Which is exactly the message that both Benjamin's "ohn Berger's Ways of Seeing, Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."and John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" the feeling that this drawing gave me when I first saw it could not be duplicated and this is Benjamin's message, to really experience art you must be present and feel what is around you. What is around you is what makes the atmosphere unique, I do not know if I would have admired this piece of art the same if I had discovered it alone and there was no one else around to admire with me, your surrounding make the experience. Just like when we watched John Berger's video in class, I was more at tentative and payed more attention because I was in a learning environment, but when I went home to watch it a second time I nearly fell asleep because I was in a relaxed environment. Aura is something that is not being appreciated as much at it should be because it does make a different in an art experience but people fail to see that.
Aura is a distinctive atmosphere that cannot be duplicated, when I first saw this piece of art drawn out on the ground I was filled with so much matador pride. I felt excited and blown away from the detail that was put into this piece of art I could see the different shades of blacks and reds. I could also see there action of other people equally admiring this art piece, it was beautiful. I wish I had known who had drawn this beautiful and very detailed piece of art, I know for a fact that it had to be one of Cal State Northridge's own student student because to put such detection and detail to a single pice of art which was made out of chalk from my understanding is not an easy task, one must love this school so much as to sit out there in front of hundreds of people trying to perfect a single piece of work that can be washed away in seconds. Then, days past and I went to see other art pieces around campus like photos in the geology department and the Matador statue but I did not connect with them as equally as I did with the art outside the pub. To me, it symbolized the students voice.
Reactions:
People around these other art pieces did not admire them as much as the people did admire the art piece that was fresh and original. When I went to take the picture of this art piece there were many people surrounding it, admiring it and I had heard that some people had been present when the artist was in the act of actually drowning this art piece, what an experience . I believe that this can be considered as instant aura, what better atmosphere is there than actually being at the site while the artist is being inspired. If someone such as me had shown another individual a picture of the is art work it would not even compare to the actual feeling of being at the site while the artist is drawing. You cannot see an art piece come alive threw single photo. Again, I look through my phone looking for an art piece to write this blog about each art piece gave me a different feeling but the art piece that was outside the pub stood out the most.
A Look Back:
When I went back to look at the picture of this art piece I was not blow away I was not inspired, and I did not feel happy or excited to be a matador. It was just a picture of a drawing. This is picture without aura, no originality. Which is exactly the message that both Benjamin's "ohn Berger's Ways of Seeing, Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction."and John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" the feeling that this drawing gave me when I first saw it could not be duplicated and this is Benjamin's message, to really experience art you must be present and feel what is around you. What is around you is what makes the atmosphere unique, I do not know if I would have admired this piece of art the same if I had discovered it alone and there was no one else around to admire with me, your surrounding make the experience. Just like when we watched John Berger's video in class, I was more at tentative and payed more attention because I was in a learning environment, but when I went home to watch it a second time I nearly fell asleep because I was in a relaxed environment. Aura is something that is not being appreciated as much at it should be because it does make a different in an art experience but people fail to see that.
Cynthia Sanchez attends Cal State University and is on the women's soccer team