skill and art (Benjamin)

 

 

Walter Benjamin, a German Jewish intellectual and cultural critic associated with the Frankfurt School, had insightful perspectives on the relationship between skill and art. Benjamin's thoughts on these topics are scattered throughout his various writings, but some key concepts and ideas can be highlighted:

 

>> Skill

Mechanical Reproduction:

One of Benjamin's significant contributions is found in his essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." He argued that the advent of technologies like photography and film disrupted traditional notions of artistic skill. Mechanical reproduction, he argued, separated the work of art from its unique, authentic existence.

 

Aura:

Benjamin introduced the concept of "aura" to describe the unique presence and authenticity of an artwork in its original form. With the loss of aura through mechanical reproduction, the traditional connection between skill and the uniqueness of the original work was challenged.

 

 

>> Art

Technological Reproducibility:

Benjamin examined how the mass reproduction of art through technologies like photography and film changed the nature of artistic production. He argued that these technologies severed the traditional link between the artist's skill and the uniqueness of the artwork.

 

Loss of Authenticity:

According to Benjamin, the mechanical reproduction of art led to a loss of the aura, which he associated with the artwork's authenticity. Traditional skills, tied to the uniqueness of the artist's touch, were no longer as crucial in an age of mass production.

 

Cultural Critique:

Benjamin's approach to art was deeply rooted in cultural critique. He explored how changes in technology and society influenced artistic practices and the perception of art. His reflections on art were part of a broader analysis of modernity and its impact on various aspects of life.

 

The Flâneur(산책자): 자신의 내면을 성찰하며 걷는 존재

In his studies on 19th-century Paris, particularly in the "Arcades Project," Benjamin explored the figure of the flâneur—a detached, perceptive observer of urban life. The flâneur's role and perspective on the city reflected Benjamin's broader concerns with modernity and its effects on artistic experience.

 

진정한 경험(Erfahrung)과 일시적 체험(Erlebnis)는 아도르노와 벤야민의 논쟁에서 중요한 부분이다. 아도르노는 시간의 흐름 속에서 축적되고 전승되는 깊은 경험과 순간적인 자극과 충격에 그치는 파편화된 경험으로 경험을 구분했을 때, 현대의 플라뇌르는 화려한 도시의 불빛과 소음 속에서 일시적 체험만을 반복하는데, 이것은 삶을 풍요롭게 만드는 것이 아니라 오히려 인간을 파편화시키고 무기력하게 만든다고 보았다. 자유로운 예술적 영혼이 아니라, 자본주의 시스템이 만들어낸 환상 속에서 길을 잃은 고독한 군중.

 

Historical Materialism:

Benjamin's approach to art was informed by his engagement with historical materialism, a key tenet of Marxist thought. He sought to understand art within the broader context of social and economic relations, examining how changes in production and technology influenced artistic expression.

 

 

Walter Benjamin's understanding of skill and art is deeply entwined with his broader philosophical inquiries into modernity, technology, and cultural transformation. His reflections on the impact of mechanical reproduction on the aura of the artwork and the role of traditional artistic skills remain influential in discussions about the nature of art in the contemporary age.

 

 

 

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[1] Benjamin, W. (2018). The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. In A museum studies approach to heritage (pp. 226-243). Routledge.