Mass Culture, Mass Art, Mass Extinction?

As a Jazz musician and music enthusiast, I cannot say that I completely agree with the Frankfurt School of thought; however, I do agree with Walter Benjamin in the article, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” The Aura of Art - being there to see the real thing - is something which cannot be reproduced by a machine recording.  The article mentions, “Bronzes, terra cottas, and coins were the only art works which the Greeks could produce in quantity.” (I have been privileged to have seen some of the “mass” produced items of that era and the detail on coins - smaller than our penny - puts much of our “art” to shame.) Because so few things could be made in mass quantities, most people had to make it needed items themselves or have someone with specific craftsmen skills to create a needed item. I think this is a prime example of how often art seems to be under-appreciated. We don’t understand the amount of time the craftsmen spend to create their creations since we live in a culture where just about everything is mass produced.

My cousin’s grandfather is master woodworker and my sister is skilled at whittling small wooded objects with a pocket knife.  Both have commented that most people just don’t understand how long it takes to create an item of quality. This is the first reason today’s art is under appreciated - we don’t comprehend the time it takes to create, but also the time spent beforehand mastering the art form.  

The second reason we take art for granted is because it is so readily available - easy access. Why take the time to go see a piece of art when you can just Google it.  This could be the first step in causing the art to lose its true, actual beauty. When I see the painting below I don’t see a work of art I see the Facebook Gif.

(You can look it up online for full affect) 

While this is a beautiful rendition of a starry sky, I am enjoying it without seeing the texture of the actual brush strokes. I now enjoy the moving enhancements rather than a great impressionistic work of art. When John Phillips Susa heard the phonograph is said, “This will kill the performing musician.” His words have proven prophetic. People no longer want to go out and listen to a musical concert, but would rather listen passively to the same songs on You-Tube or on their iPod over and over.  This has cheapened music. The days of enjoying individual composers’ original life works is now replaced by a team of techies who are paid to “crank- out” a hit in a day or two. While there are many positives to a world of mass production, my overall feeling is negative as society becomes more comfortable on their couch rather than getting out and going to an exhibit or                                                             concert.