Can art be mechanically reproduced?

When something is reproduced for so many times is that art? What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society?

When something is reproduced over and over I do believe it is still art, it is merely a copy of the original art. If it is an exact copy of a painting or photograph I believe that is a complement to the artist. Don’t we all have photographs or painting around our schools, malls, church’s, even our own home; a majority are probably a reproduction, and don't we all do appreciate seeing these? Also; if it is a reproduction no matter how many different iterations people have of a painting the original message is always there. This allows us to open our mind and see one art piece in many different ways. The importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art according to Benjamin is the “intimate fusion of visual and emotional enjoyment with the orientation of the expert. Such fusion is of great social significance. The greater the decrease in the social significance of an art form, the sharper the distinction between criticism and enjoyment by the public”. Through mechanical reproducibility the negative feel that come with some works of art have been lessened and easier for society to look at. Mechanical reproducibility has become important to society because it is a way to learn more about history therefore learning about society.

This is a reproduction of an original.
Do you still receive the original message?

Is photography art, or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists?

Photography allows us to express feeling and emotions. Photograph is a form of art which makes it both an art and contribution to art. Artists have used photography as a tool to create other forms of art, but it is more than just a tool. It is used by artists as an instrument that describes who they are, by captures beautiful moments in life. To be a photographer you need to have the skill and eye of an artist, therefore yes photography is an art form.

Can you still feel the emotion?

How and why Henry Pitch Robinson created Feading Away? What was the 
reason?

In 1858 Robinson exhibited Fading Away, a picture printed from five different negatives. This work illustrated the peaceful death of a young girl surrounded by her grieving family. Although the photograph was the product of Robinson’s imagination, many viewers felt that such a scene was too painful to be tastefully rendered by such a literal medium as photography. The controversy made Robinson the most famous photographer in England. This controversial photograph, made some feel that the subject was not suitable for photography and that only painters could portray images like this one and it was not right for photographers.

Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization?

I personally embrace digitalization, the world has changed a great deal since the beginning of time, and if you ask me its all been for the better. Digitalization is just making it easier for people to do things; it is opening things such as photography to a larger crowd of people, allowing a lot more creativity and less of the technical aspest. Yes, it is probably going to take away all the skill needed to do things for technology is growing so much pretty soon we wont even need to push a button to change the settings on a camera, turn on a computer or write a text message. However, the antique method of doing things will always be around, so embrce the future. 

Assignment 1 - Photo Journal 1

In the early days portraits where one of a kind; exclusive, portraits where made for wealthy families and highly valued they would be passed down from generation to generation for there was only one copy of each photo. In the past there were only a few people who could afford a photographer, and a fewer who could call themselves a photographers. Taking photos with early day cameras was extremely complicated some say almost a science. Daguerreotype and Calotype photography were introduced, both methods used many chemicals and salt water, and many hours to develop a photo, that could have been horrible eg, head titled too much, eyes closed, blurry and so on. A photographer took photography as there profession and devoted their time to taking photos. Photographers were hired by nobility there subjects where mainly people, more specifically portraits of nobility. 

However, now almost anybody could call himself or herself a photographer, technology has advanced so much that you see five-year-old taking pictures. We now can take as many pictures as we desire, delete the bad ones and take some more. Everybody can manage to take a great photo once in a while, because everything is the subject. Any subject you can think of has an image available somewhere; it can range from a bear, fruit, landscape, shoes, a toothbrush, even a mint anything goes. Everyday people use photos to express themselves and capture moments to remember, most of us have albums and a camera with us 24/7 (camera phones) cameras are tinny nowadays, even on phones there is editing software for the photos, than you can send it directly to the internet within mater of seconds for the world to view.

But don’t get me wrong there are still photographers like back in the day that take photos as there profession and devote there time to capturing beautiful images, photography is just more simple now and is opened to everybody. Plus photos don’t even have to be perfect with the use of technology like Photoshop, you don’t even need a background you can import your subject into a beautiful background off the Internet. It is possible to mesh images together to create something only the imagination can come up with. We can also soften blemishes, change the lighting, fix red-eyes, air brush skin tone, add in make-up add hair and different eye colors.  In the past photography was a science; now a day it seems to be everybody’s hobby.

If you ask me thats a huge change!

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•  Alex, . "The Wonderful World of Early Photography." Neatorama. N.p., 29082006. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.neatorama.com/2006/08/29/the-wonderful-world-of-early-photography/>.
• "pearbulb." Photograph. observer. Web. 21 Sep 2011. <http://vi.sualize.us/view/dreamwarrior/6c6b57358fb9bed9525509243b52f86b/>.
• Mesias, jinky. "The Impact of Digital Technology In Photography." jinxes search wrap. N.p., 23082005. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://jinmes.searchwarp.com/swa15144.htm>.
• "Portrait Photography." Wikipedia. N.p., 18082011. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_photography>.
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Introduction

Hello, my name is Andreia Arezes, I’m 20 years old. Coming out of high school I took an Art & Design Fundamentals course, than went on to the Graphic Design course, which I am now in my second year of.  I absolutely love it, I plan on majoring in cooperate in my last year of college.

I was born and raised in the city of Toronto, I enjoy the city life; however also enjoy the relaxed way of the country life. My parents are originally from Europe; I do go there quite often.  I spent the month of July in Spain, Portugal and the Acores. The scenery was amazing! I think out of the three the Acores was the best for its beautiful scenery and nature. The way of life seems so simple compare to what I am use to here in Toronto.

This is a photo I took of one of the many waterfalls while staying in the Acores. I find it simply amazing how nature can create these wonderful sights.

This is also another beautiful seen off of the island.

For now I am a bit of an armature photographer, but I am excited to learn more about it thought this course.