The Work of Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction

The task of this session was to produce a paraphrase of Walter Benjamin's 1936 essay 'The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Benjamin's essay describes the effects of Industrialisation on art and it's production. By reading 'ginal's' paraphrased extract (https://frankfurtschool.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/summary-the-work-of-art-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/), he outlines the main points that Benjamin's essay covers.
These points include:
-The way in which we view visual art forms.
-Effects on modernity on art and it's production. This is how industrialisation has lead to mass production of art. Does this make works of art less exclusive, and personal as opposed to those who own an original piece.
-Talks about the 'aura' of an artwork, and how this aura is lost in production.
-An 'aura', being a singular authority within the work itself.
-How does mechanically produced art fill this void, or replace the aura?
-Benjamin describes that this loss of aura does have positive connotations, as it can open up a void in which works can be openly discussed, on aesthetic and theoretical levels.

"During long periods of history, the mode of human sense perception changes with humanity’s entire mode of existence. The manner in which human sense perception is organized, the medium in which it is accomplished, is determined not only by nature but by historical circumstances as well” (Benjamin, 222)."