Part 1
What is an “authentic”/original piece of art you have seen?
The "authentic" artwork I saw was the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Did it have an “aura” as Benjamin claims? How so/why not?
Since art may now be duplicated, the aura has disappeared in modern times (Andy McLaverty-Robinson, 2013). A unique artistic creation's presence in time and space creates an aura. It has a relationship to the notion of authenticity. It was never truly present anyplace without the original. Authenticity is impossible to duplicate and vanishes when everything is duplicated. Even the original, according to Benjamin, loses significance since it is no longer singular. The authority of items is lost along with their validity. By attempting to assemble everything closer together continually, the masses contribute to the aura's disappearance. They obliterate originality by producing replicable realities.
Can contemporary digital media creations have an aura? Why/ Why not?
Humans and technology are inseparable in modern life. As a result, information technology and communication technology are convergent due to the rapid growth of technology. A new tool results from this convergence. Contemporary digital media creation may not have an aura. It is not relevant for us to consider aura as proposed by Benjamin to judge the originality of a work of art and digital media creation (Ahmad Ibrahim Badry, 2018). If we look at the problem of creativity not in the aura but in the mode of production, then every new form of technique or technology for artistic expression can have its own uniqueness. Besides, digital art has its uniqueness even without aura because of its property of being immaterial.
Part 2
In your own words, define “modernism”.
Modernism is an aesthetic movement active in all aspects of culture: high art, aesthetic criticism, mass communication, and city planning. Modernity significantly altered the value of art and gave rise to the media period, which was a critical response to authenticity. According to modernism, man has the ability to progress through the creation or reshaping of the environment through the use of science, technology, and knowledge.
What did some people think were the problems with modernism?
The assurance of enlightened thought was challenged by modernism. While there was once an openness, modernism evolved to become inaccessible as its "philosophy" became more defined and scarce. with individuals who are not associated with the organizations of the art world (Richard Quenneville, 2019). In addition, the early Modernists' attempts to fulfill their ideas and principles were swiftly forgotten in the modernist movement. Many early modernists attempted to use their work to make political or social criticism.
How is modernism still with us today?
A collection of attitudes, values, and ideas known as modernism emerged from the conflict and struggle between the then-emerging rationalist mindset. Many of the same problems that we currently face today are ones that modernists address. Modernism is a lifestyle movement that encourages relaxation, flexibility, and creativity. Modernism is an example of this in building and construction. Modernism eliminated ostentation and adornment, leaving slender structures devoted to their core purposes (Lisa Marie Hart, 2020). A lot of collectible mid-century designs are available, although locals live more modestly. Hoang Thuc Hao, a well-known Vietnamese interior designer, may be present. In addition to designing sumptuous house projects, he also added several details that reflected the rich architectural heritage of his country. But modernity is a certainty and often even arrives earlier.
References:
Andy McLaverty-Robinson, Walter Benjamin: Art, Aura and Authenticity, 14 June 2013, viewed 30 November 2022.
Ahmad Ibrahim Badry, Digital Art and Their Uniqueness without Aura, 19 May 2018, viewed 30 November 2022.
Lisa Marie Hart, Why Modernism (Still) Matters, 11 October 2020, viewed 30 November 2022.
Richard Quenneville, What was the problem with modernism?, 2019, viewed 30 November 2022.
