발터 벤야민의 ‘아우라(Aura)’와 현대미술

Abstract

Aura of Walter Benjamin and Modern Art

Ju Seong-beom Advisor : Prof. Song-sik Jo Ph.D. Major in Fine arts Education Graduate School of Education, Chosun University

Walter Benjamin, in his thesis , suggested that 'aura'would collapse in traditional works of art due to appearance of photographs and movies. His days were periods when atmosphere of wars was built up by the great power of expansionism and self-control of the public was violated by fascism. He aimed to achieve democracy in art by releasing aura in works of art through political confrontation. But in this period, political ideology is not as complicated as one at the beginning of 20th century, so necessity for releasing aura is quite insufficient. Accordingly, I examined whether collapse of aura suggested by Benjamin is realized in works of art. The basis of making aura into existence can be summarized to uniqueness, historical values and ritual values. He describes aura in metaphorical language, which is quite mysterious concept. In order to understand this concept, I examined the theory of Lukacs, Adorno and Brecht who studied the truth those days, and these theories which agreed with the concept of aura started from dialectic discernment. Besides, in studying aura in modern art, I grasped the point of view of Avant-garde and Aesthetics of Reception and applied relationship in Modernism Art and Post-Modernism Art. In early photography, aura occurredthrough sympathy between photographer and objects. Also it was partly due to long shooting time caused by technical defect. Aura also exists in the works of Dadaism and Surrealism bearing anti-artistic characteristics. They made another new aura by denying traditional are and borrowing aura of existing works of art. And they cannot help implying aura as their arts have values of present historical testimony. In abstract paintings, aura is expressed in aesthetic aspect, and it is also shown through social criticism. But, aura can be mostly examined in formative forms which reflect the inside and spirit of artists. Abstraction expresses tradition and religious aesthetic appreciation as it seeks its origin in primitive ones. In Post-Modernism Art, aura was studied at works and receiver's position. In paintings and photographs in early 20th century, there were quite many bases for making aura into existence in works themselves, but in art after 1960s, establishment of these bases weakened. It's because that due to common and usual materials, historical or ritual values are not clear, and the form of copying is being used quite a lot. Photo-realism takes a view of information in the world through phenomenon shown by photographs, and it exposes their reality through dramatic depiction. It is an objective realism expressed based on cold point of view like an ice. But in dealing with materials, viewpoint and subjectivity of the photographer are reflected to some extent, and nervousness expressed on screen is sometimes considered as surrealistic image. It means that aura can be generated according to information of receivers. In works of artistic photographs, internality of photographer are more focused on than record, and it is proved by the fact that abstraction is shown in printing image realistically. There are quite sufficient bases for aura. With these results, it is confirmed that after the early 20th century, aura also occurs by communications with receivers, as well as belonging to the work itself. When aura is considered as an embodiment of sensibility and spirituality, it is a medium which should exist inevitably in more works of art.