The essay can be found online here.
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm
SUMMARY
Benjamin's essay talks about the Capitalist mode of the age of Mechanical reproduction "changes the reaction of the masses toward art" and how the principles of art have always had the capability to be reproduced, and this change in and reproduction created a "whole new appreciation of art is introduced while at the same time a whole new mode of deception and distraction." The Marxist theory shows how the reproduction of art creates a loss in the value and understanding of the art, hence creating a revolutionary type of art and the loss of its 'aura.' The message and meaning of the original artwork is lost through the process of reproduction. The mechanical reproductions are showing people how to see rather than letting people interpret and see what they do from their own will for example in a gallery the painting where a painting would have an interpretation written next to it. "The presence of the original is the prerequisite to the concept of authenticity." He talks about how original pieces of art have a sense of tradition and authority, they are more special because of their uniqueness and the time, space and way that they were created, and through the mechanism of reproduction, this is lost as the prints are not original, they
Today society has found ways to reproduce art more effectively however this has created the loss of aura; the uniqueness and meaning has been lost through its reproduction. This reproduction also made art more accessible, as the advances get easier, you can reproduce art easily e.g. lithography, photography, film which can now all be viewed on the internet rather than a gallery. "With lithography the technique of reproduction reached an essentially new stage. Lithography enabled graphic art to illustrate everyday life, and it began to keep pace with printing." It allows culture to come to the viewer rather than the viewer finding it in a gallery.
Today art is becoming less of an expression and more of a business idea, its is produced for the masses to make money rather than a personal expression. An example of this is the 'Keep Calm Carry On' poster which was origianlly created by the British Government as moral boosting propeganda posters in WW2. Although it was never indented to be a piece of art, today this poster has been reproduced, adapted and printed on various products that are now sold all over the UK. This poster used to be iconic because of the meaning, message and time. Now the print is iconic because of the large range of adaptations created and mass production of it.
KEY QUOTES
Mechanical reproduction of art changes the reaction of the masses toward art
The concepts which are introduced into the theory of art in what follows differ from the more familiar terms in that they are completely useless for the purposes of Fascism. They are, on the other hand, useful for the formulation of revolutionary demands in the politics of art
Clearly, this is at bottom the same ancient lament that the masses seek distraction whereas art demands concentration from the spectator
In principle a work of art has always been reproducible. Man-made artifacts could always be imitated by men.
Mechanical reproduction of a work of art, however, represents something new.
"With lithography the technique of reproduction reached an essentially new stage. Lithography enabled graphic art to illustrate everyday life, and it began to keep pace with printing." ew decades after its invention, lithography was surpassed by photography
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