Aura: To Each His Own

The aura of an artwork is a quality perceived by a viewer when he/she confronts the piece of art firsthand. Benjamin describes the aura as a quality of the artwork itself, that it is a product of the work’s “authenticity” and its subsequent “essence”. [1] Benjamin argues mechanical reproduction of art threatens this essence, because the process “emancipates the work of art from its parasitical dependence on ritual”, which is what gives art its “uniqueness”. [2]

Perhaps a flaw in Benjamin’s view is the failure to acknowledge the viewer’s own uniqueness, which is the main factor responsible for giving artwork meaning to an individual. In other words, the viewer’s personal interpretation of a work is what creates the aura perceived, not the other way around. Therefore, an artwork does not give off one particular aura, but as many auras as there are viewers, and each viewer will experience a different aura, based on his/her own internal workings.

With this argument, mechanical reproduction of a work does alter the aura perceived by the viewer. However, it is not as great of a change as Benjamin claims, as there is not an essential aura lost by the original artwork. It is true the perception of the artwork will be different when the viewer confronts a reproduction, but the viewer will form a new and unique aura, and still be able to be affected by the work. As Benjamin stated, “A man who concentrates before a work of art is absolutely absorbed by it.” [3]

A similar argument may be made for the concept of aura as it applies to the cyber; it is once again up to the viewer to establish and interpret an aura of the reproduction. The Internet allows for more clutter, that is, its vastness may overwhelm a user. From this perspective, the Internet may serve as a double-edged sword in viewing art- It provides the viewer with the opportunity to see more works than previously imaginable, but at the same time, the myriad of content may beset the viewer.


[1] Benjamin, Walter. Illuminations: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. New York, NY: Shocken Books, 1968. Print. Pg, 221

[2] Benjamin, Walter. Illuminations: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. New York, NY: Shocken Books, 1968. Print. Pg. 224

[3] Benjamin, Walter. Illuminations: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. New York, NY: Shocken Books, 1968. Print. Pg. 239