On Davis Assay
In 1940s Walter Benjamin was faced with development of reproduction and distribution of art. He organized art into two categories comparing traditional art forms, such as painting, to new arts available through technology, such as advertising and car production. In his opinion traditional artwork still has it’s “aura” and authenticity, while new form can evolve the society itself.
In 1990s Douglas Davis wrote his thoughts on the same topic using Walter Benjamin as a reference of outdated point of view. In his time technologies already became acceptable by the society and even creation of such technologies became art itself, such as Quicktime “movie” as a tool to empower imagination. The moment of creation of relationship between the art piece and the viewer is what counts for Davis.
This article reminded me of Larry Lessig and his speech about content. He said that in 1930s radio was considered to take away an ability of speech from masses into a Read Only culture – sort of speak, while now, the internet gives back the ability to Read and Write.
I think the difference between Benjamin and Douglas lays not in their point of view, or absurdity of ideas of aura and authenticity, but in the culture and time that they wrote in. There is a huge change in outlook on technology and life values in this 50 years.
