He was the first to forecast the future of art authenticity at the dawn of machine reproduction. He stated that once a work of art loses its uniqueness, its aura vanishes. As a result, the value of creative works and artists will fall until it hits nothing. This outstanding thinker is the German philosopher Walter Benjamin. He discussed this phenomenon in his insightful article The Work of Art in the Mechanical Reproduction which still can find its place in today’s world in various aspects.

In contemporary times, technology has extensively intruded into our daily lives. It’s difficult to envision a world without mechanical machinery that we utilize on a daily basis, whether at home, at work, or even on the street. For example, generation gap disputes in music taste, fashion, and creative assessments effectively show this issue. The existence of numerous singers has raised an important concern of how to distinguish artists from pries. It seems that what Walker has previously argued is projected in even today’s artistic conflicts. Furthermore, social networking has made a significant contribution to the subject under consideration. The plethora of photographs, sports apps, aesthetic photos, and so on has entirely transformed their satisfying worth and minimized the onset distinctiveness they formerly possessed. According to Walker, this came as a result of the imagery of political actors that altered the value of art to its economical price. The use of social media, for instance, has become a great political medium to keep people believing in illusions and ignoring real conflicts by engaging them in trivial topics. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction’s ideas can be easily detected in modern times.

All in all, Benjamin Walker’s interesting interpretation of the link between art, politics, and mechanical reproduction remains one of the smartest intellectual analyses. His work should be one of the key topics debated by today’s generation, whether young or old, in order to uncover the true meanings behind art and political agendas. Art is indeed a subject that should be often discussed and dealt with in terms of its authenticity and functionality.