Walter Benjamin suggests that “mechanical reproduction,” that is the reproduction of art, changes the reaction of the masses toward art. With such contemporary technologies nowadays, society as whole has unmistakeably have changed in the way that we react and view art. Technology such as, computers with CD/DVD burners; phones with sound recorders etc. have contributed to this age of mechanical reproduction. We can now buy Cd's, DVD's with recorded, that is reproduced, art work to either be seen or heard. There is now no necessity to visit a movie theatre or go to a live concert; we view everything on a digital basis.At the time when art work was produced by a viewable and real medium, an artist or skilled professional, there was an evolving change in technology. With music, images, videos and or types of art work being created and reproduced digitally art has changed in a matter of meaning. “Art” is now not just a painting or a live concert or opera, it’s a form of everything around us. One could suggest that the environment is a work of art nurtured by a horticulturist, or the inside of a restaurant designed by a interior design. Art can be seen anywhere and everywhere we step our feet. However those artworks produced by real mediums are somewhat different to our digital forms. One cannot really connect oneself to the artist as we see these digital forms on TV, computers, and hear others on headphones or speakers. “Art” has changed dramatically and is for in some sense changed for the better in a way that art can be viewed or heard anywhere in the world via the Internet. Conversely digital mediums lose a sense or realism when loaded up onto one’s screen.
Other questions still remain as to whether a “photoshopped” image is in actual fact authentic. Some suggest that this new form of digitalised art can be called authentic in a sense that the final product is different from the original. It is a question of belief and or viewpoint to whether one to call a “photoshopped” image “authentic.” Most certainly many people would claim that a “photoshopped” Picasso painting is not authentic, yet a photoshopped image of a model for an advertisement would be suggested as most probably authentic depending on the audience.
Even though Walter proposes that digital forms do not consist of an "aura" one can suggest that it still consists of an “aura,” though is significantly diluted through the process of the art being transformed into digital media. For example the essence of watching a live opera is much more impacting than what it is to listen to the opera on one’s iPod. One’s reaction is substantially changed if one was to listen to recorded media rather than watch and listen to a real and live media. Digital mediums still form an “aura,” however; it is just an issue of how close one is connected to that “aura.” The digital form is just less aura-listic than the real original form.
