Water Banjamin’s essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproducton” touches on a subject that I feel very strongly about. More so in the fashion world than the art world, many people would argue that buying an original piece is a waste of money because you can buy something that looks just as nice without breaking the bank. When creating a reproduction you loose a sense of originality and in many ways you are steeling an idea from the artist. I would also have to agree with Benjamin that mechanical reproductions do not omit the same “aura”. Classic pieces like the ‘Mona Lisa’ or ‘Starry Night’ are icons to a certain genre of painting. Making post cards or calendars with these works in some ways acts as a tribute to the artist and a celebration of the piece, these I do not see as a bad thing. It is when someone intentionally copies a design and attempts to sell it as if it were an ‘original’ piece. Although it may visually withhold the same qualities, it is not genuine or authentic and comes off as a fraud.
The other day a friend and I walked into a store on Park Ave. It was a small owner operated boutique that sold home accessories, jewelry and handbags. When we walked in there were some bags on the shelf that appeared to be by the designer ‘Tory Burch’. We went over to look at the bags but quickly discovered they looked slightly different then other bags by this designer. We asked the store owner and she said that they were reproductions. I was immediately turned off. Not only was the design basically stolen, they were still charging about $150 for the bags. This happens quite often with handbags and even some shoe companies suffer from other companies copying their designs.
I think as critical media majors and on a moral level, it is important for us to give credit where credit is due and to question the authenticity and originality of work produced.
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