Aura

Aura can be defined as unique phenomenon of a distance or unique feelings on different aspects. “The uniqueness of a work of art is inseparable from its being imbedded in the fabric of tradition.”[1]People put time and effort to see a person or Art itself rather than looking up online. They especially go and see the quality of Art closely and go from different perspectives, feel the air get some emotion from the Museum of Art. Aura can be affected by our backgrounds; where we come from, what kind of culture, family and religion we have.

For example in Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to vote or to drive a car. They also have strict dress code rules which they need to cover their head and body. She was saying that “I love my country – it’s better to fight to change things from here. People talking from outside are not taken so seriously. But when they talk from inside, it has more effect on people. That’s why I don’t want to leave.”[2]We can also see from the picture she is holding poster which is saying that “Cars want to be driven by Saudi women.” It shows her confident and she does not seem she is going to give up on her way of freedom.

According to the Adorno, culture today is infecting everything with sameness such as film, radio, and magazines they are all have same opinions and ideas.[3] Through internet or media everything shown from same prospective this is the one what other people want from us to think and rely on. Also he mentions that “the whole world is passed through the filter of the culture industry.” [4] Again it relates to familiar experiences and ideas however it also shows the truth and power of internet because it is not easy to experience the whole world directly without the internet.

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[1] Benjamin, Walter. (1968). Illuminations: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (pp.222-223). New York, NY: Schocken Books.

[2] "From the Edge." New Internationalist. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. .

[3] Adorno, Theodor. Dialect of Enlightenment: The Culture Industry: Enlightenment of Mass Deception". California: Stanford University Press. pg 94.

[4] Adorno, Theodor. Dialect of Enlightenment: The Culture Industry: Enlightenment of Mass Deception". California: Stanford University Press. Pg 99.