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Walter Benjamin

    1. For Benjamin, what is the difference/s between reproduction done by the human hand and reproduction done by technological means? (p.4)
    2. What does Benjamin mean by, “The here and now of the original constitute the abstract idea of its genuineness”(p.5)?  How does the idea of “genuineness” exist in contemporary fashion and creative art and design practice?  [There might be a number of different interpretations of genuineness. ]
    3. “The whole province of genuineness is beyond technological (and of course not only technological) reproducibility.” (p.6) What do you think Benjamin means by this?  Can you relate this to your own creative discipline?
    4. How does Benjamin define the term “aura” and what do you understand by this?  (p.7-10)  [This is a very important concept for Benjamin].
    5. How does this idea of ‘the original’ exist in fashion?  How is it signified and reproduced?  Does it have an ‘aura’?
    6. “The instant the criterion of genuineness in art production failed, the entire social function of art underwent an upheaval.  Rather than being underpinned by ritual, it came to be underpinned by a different practice: politics” (p.10-12). Give some examples where the ideas of ‘ritual’ and ‘politics’ might be helpful when analysing examples of contemporary fashion and design practice.  Do you find the
    7. Comment on Benjamin’s discussion of the “cultic value” and the “displayability” of a work of art (p.12-13).  Do you think these relate to contemporary notions of fashion?
    8. In your own lifetime, what technological innovations have you experienced which have changed aspects of the arts / design / fashion? 


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