This episode begins with two men, one resembling a mad professor, walking up to a neoclassical painting and cutting it with a pocket knife. The knife man identifies himself as John Berger, and he goes on to explain his intention to deconstruct the processes of representation, duplication and perception in the age of mechanical reproduction. He argues that, “The meaning of a painting no longer relies on its unique painted surface which it is only possible to see in one place at one time. Its meaning—or a large part of it—has become transmittable”. These reproductions broaden the potential audience of works of art, but they also encourage the obsession of “authentic” originals.
Even though Berger gives credit to this boosting interest in original works of art, he goes on to say that anyone can reproduce these works for their own purposes. He argues that original images can be manipulated to serve different agendas. He concludes by stating that not all art, such as photography, is being placed on the high pedestal that it should be since there is so much reproduction going on. He says it takes the elitist element out of creating art. This was an interesting read and was a good reminder to always value original works of art, for they were constructed at the highest level of creativity possible and not stolen from anyone. I seem to always be “influenced” or “inspired” by other works, so this was great inspiration to challenge myself to be 100% original.
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