발터 벤야민의 '예술의 정치학'

Abstract

Walter Benjamin(1892-1940) introduced a new theory of art centering on a new function of art - the politics of art - in his essay,󰡒The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction󰡓, which he wrote in 1936. He wanted to revise the function of art so that instead of being based on ritual, art could be based on another practice - politics. He developed a materialistic and political point of view on art. He argued that Communism should politicize art and stand against Fascism which aesthetisized politics. He brushed aside a number of outmoded concepts, such as creativity and genius, eternal value and mystery concepts whose uncontrolled application could lead to a processing of data in the Fascist sense. In his essay, he writes about how mechanical reproducibility affects art and our perception of art, especially in photography and film. He also writes about how mechanical reproducibility of art has made art removed from its particular time and venue and leads the original to lose its uniqueness and authenticity, which he calls its󰡐aura󰡑. The ritualistic aspect of art is dependent on its aura, that is, its authenticity and uniqueness. Eliminating its aura from art works, mechanical reproducibility separates art from its basis on ritual. Instead, art begins to have a basis in politics - a new function of art. Another effect of mechanical reproducibility is the shift from cult value to exhibition value. With these two shifts, from ritual to politics and from cult to exhibition, the function of art is totally transformed by mechanical reproducibility. No longer is art something to be venerated by a few in rituals, but it is something that spreads political messages to the public. Art has been democratized with the advent of mechanical reproduction. Benjamin's theory has been criticized by many aestheticians and Marxists, such as Adorno and Bürger and it has caused a lot of controversy, especially related to the autonomy of art. In this thesis, Benjamin's new theory of art is analyzed based on research which has been conducted about󰡐the politics of art󰡑in his essay󰡒The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction󰡓. It can be concluded that according to Walter Benjamin, the politicization of art should be the goal of Communism; in contrast to Fascism which aestheticizes politics for the purpose of social control.