Class has less importance in the art world than the method of production.
Such processed brush away outmoded concepts such as creativity, eternal value and mystery.
Art produced in such a way is useless to fascists.
Aura withers in an age of such mechanical processes.
Work reproduced in such a way detaches it from its rational heritage.
Futile thought had been earlier wasted on whether photography is an art.
The question of whether the invention of photography had changed art wasn't raised.
Mechanical reproduction changes the masses view towards art.
War is beautiful.
'American Hustle' by Matt Taylor is an example of art in modern times being used by means of mechanical reproduction. This work created entirely digitally using Adobe Photoshop allows for wider production and distribution however Benjamin (1936) argues that art created this way brushes "aside a number of outmoded concepts, such as creativity and genius, eternal value and mystery". He believes that work produced in such a way is easy and forgettable but most importantly it loses it's mystery as one can assume how it was produced when they view it. Art such as this would be "completely useless for the purpose of fascism" as everyone can get a copy - it isn't original or rare. Then in lies the problem - with art so easy to produce a certain aura is lost. Benjamin states that the aura of such work "withers in the age of mechanical reproduction". With it so easy to produce and replicate, where is its value? He goes on to say that work in such a way "substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. It's value comes from there being only one of it, this is why the fascists would look down on art such as this - it's an easy commodity. They could own a copy, but so might their neighbours, family or friends. But is mass produced digital work actually art? Benjamin states that, "Much futile thought had been devoted to the question of whether photography is an art. The primary question - whether the very invention of photography had not transformed the entire nature of art - was not raised". Why the question of whether digital work is art still remains, surely a more apt question, especially in connection with Taylor's "American Hustle" is how has it changed art.
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