Walter Benjamin is [sic]

1.
“Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. This unique existence of the work of art determined the history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence. This includes the changes which it may have suffered in physical condition over the years as well as the various changes in its ownership. The traces of the first can be revealed only by chemical or physical analyses which it is impossible to perform on a reproduction; changes of ownership are subject to a tradition which must be traced from the situation of the original.”
--it appears to me that walter is trying to say that the physical presence of the art creates authenticity. for example, to cash a cheque you need to be able to physically certify to the teller that you have a cheque. by it being tangible, it leaves the impression that it is real. which is confusing if you consider a fake work of art?


2.
It seems that art and the process of creating art evolves. people who create art using digital means can still be skilled professionals; e.g. a graphic designer. however anyone can create art. a sketch on a napkin can be considered art. it seems that the term art is quite generic in the world of today? i guess it all comes down to recognition and praise/criticism?


3.
“From a photographic negative, for example, one can make any number of prints; to ask for the “authentic” print makes no sense.”
A photoshopped image is in the same relevancy of the negative; it is not the authentic image. on the contrary, the image might be made up of several originals to create an authentic image.


4.
“That which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art”

In Benjamin’s terms digital media has no aura as it does not deteriorate, however the fact that it becomes outdated might imply deterioration. he states that a physical work of art has an aura because as time goes on it develops an aura; in the same sense wine becomes vintage.