Walter Benjamin

                                           

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

 "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."

   Walter Benjamin describes art that has "presence in time and space" as cult value. This implicates that artworks have an added "value" because it represents a specific moment in time and is an indentation within history. The work itself has an "aura" which produces a ripple effect that cannot be constrained. Nevertheless, with the advancement of technology, this aura is opaqued by mechanical reproductions that reduce the "authenticity" of the work and diminish the aura. The art then falls into the realm of exhibition value. It is in within this realm that art begins to lose its historical context and "detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition." Furthermore, "by making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. And in permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation, it reactivates the object reproduced. These two processes lead to a tremendous shattering of tradition which is the obverse of the contemporary crisis and renewal of mankind."  In other words, I think that by making mechanical reproductions and making it available to anyone, the art is liberated and constrained only to the individual experience.

"Pain"

"... One soon senses that pain has a sure and ineluctable hold. Nothing is more certain and unavoidable than pain; it resembles life's inescapable shadow or a gristmill grinding the grain ever finer and with ever more incisive rotation."

   Junger describes pain as unavoidable and certain, just as death.  It is something that we cannot escape, perhaps, we may be enticed to dismiss it but it will eventually crawl back. Perhaps the majority of people have not thought about pain in this respect, as an essential part of living and which will always accompany one in life. I believe that Junger is conveying what is the reality of things. One must suffer and endure pain, because it is part of life. Yet, as human beings we are taught to avoid situations that cause us pain when in fact, this is just an illusory principle. According to Junger, "our children's tales close with passages of heroes who, after having overcome many dangers, live out there lives in peace and happiness.  We hear such assurances with pleasure, for it is comforting for us to learn about a place removed from pain."  I don't believe that conformity and obedience is a solution to pain. Pain will occur, eventually, whether the state is at peace.

"Nazism"

"Then, gentlemen, not you will be the ones to deliver the verdict over us, but that verdict will be given by the eternal judgment of history, which will speak out against the accusation that has been made against us. I know what your judgment will be. But that other court will not ask us: Have you committed high treason or not? That court will judge us, their quartermaster-general of the old army, its officers and soldiers, who as Germans wanted only the best for their people and Fatherland, who fought and who were willing to die. You might just as well find us guilty a thousand times, but the goddess of the eternal court of history will smile and tear up the motions of the state's attorney and the judgment of this court: for she finds us not guilty."


     It is in these last words of Hitler one can get an insight into his disturbing and psychotic mind. For Hitler to  begin to assume that History would judge him one day as a "quartermaster-general of the old army... who wanted only the best for their people and Fatherland" is unfathomable.  It is unbelievable that such a character would ultimately think that the genocide for which he was responsible would be justified by the "goddess of the eternal court." His plea of not guilty, only reflects his arrogance and his unwillingness to accept any of the crimes that he committed. Furthermore, his attitude of doing what was best for the Fatherland, underlines the totalitarian ideal which he believed in. The horrors of the Holocaust will forever leave and an imprint in German history and Hitler will be the dent that made it possible.


The current films that I watched are completely different from the previous films. The introduction of color and dramatized documentary transforms these new films into reality. In the first film "Triumph of the Will" the viewer is drawn to the impressive aerial views of a city in Germany. The film displays Hitler's militarized persona and the nationalistic sentiment that followed him.  Another important point to highlight is the impressive armed forces that Hitler had at his command, not to mention the willingness of every soldier to fight till death. Regardless of the atrocities that Hitler committed, it is impressive to see how one man could gain so much power and respect.
With the second film "Night and Fog" the back and forth effect gives the film a very realistic contrast of the past and the present.  The nature of the film is very grotesque and hard to watch. It takes the viewer into the reality of concentration camps, and the endless suffering to which the Jewish community were subjugated too. It was very hard to watch the last film, because it left me angry for no one took responsibility for their actions, as if they were somehow manipulated into doing such horrible things. Nevertheless, both films allow the viewer to catch a glimpse of a past "real" reality; cold, unapologetic and very real.