Blog Response 3

What does Benjamin mean by "aura"?

            I think that Benjamin says it perfectly at the beginning of II “It’s presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be… the changes which it may have suffered in physical condition over the years as well as the various changes in its ownership.” “Aura is the missing element in an original work of art. The feeling that you get when you see the original is different than when you see a replica, whether it be change in size, age or medium, the “aura” is not the same.

Do you agree that mass-produced objects lack an aura?

            I think that some do definitely, however; certain objects can mimic the aura of the original. If the machinery can do it right they can add the fading, cracks, and other indicators of age. However, the majority does lack that sense about them or else people would not spend so much time seeking out the originals in museums and spending millions on them. Talented forgeries come the closest to creating the original’s aura as I see so often in White Collar (one of the best USA Network series). Mass-produced products don’t have any originality to them and quantity reduces allure when it comes to art.