“The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” by Walter Benjamin was written in 1936 during the rise of fascism. Benjamin was a dialectical thinker and his essay elaborated on the good and bad of the film industry. I believe his criticism is a bit out dated, but also very on target. Film and film technologies are expressive and defining. Film has the ability to not only change the way we see the world, but also help us think about something for the better (and sometimes for the worse). Benjamin proved the point that film helps to influence and shape public outlook. For example, the documentary An Inconvenient Truth opened our eyes to the doom we may face if we do not change our ways in terms of reducing our waste and carbon output. This movie was one of the major contributors that paved the way for the current green revolution. With film technology in the 1930s, fascism was on display for the public eye and the people’s senses were conditioned to it and their minds transformed. Now, we can compare this influence to the Hollywood image. We’re all so obsessed with the idea of the Hollywood hills- the life, the fame, the money. It is something we all dream about. Why? Because film has made it look so glamorous. Benjamin must have been talking about the glamour of fascism that was made possible through the use of film. In this sense, his words are still very current. Through the camera lens, we are in awe of this idealist perspective- a “mass movement” provided by film.
Benjamin talks about the “aura” of a unique piece of art and the intense experience its audience feels when they view it. He believes that through mechanical reproduction, the mass effect of film allows for duplication and makes public different forms of art, and therefore the aura is lost. However, a new aura is formed. Film gives us an intimate connection to places we’ve never seen. Using film technologies like the shot/reverse-angle shot, the audience is pulled into the dialogue and we feel like we are listening first hand to the person speaking. Sometimes the actor even speaks to us. Film makes art relatable. Music brings in another dimension to film and allows for moods to develop anywhere from suspenseful to exciting. Music, film technologies and dialogue all work together to form this new experience. Yes, the mass audience can watch the film, but each person in that audience will interpret and experience that film in his/her own way. When we watched Fight Club in class, I reacted differently than my neighbor. For example, I cringed when a fight went on, while my neighbor laughed and eagerly watched on.
Film is made up of many different elements and it is therefore a “criminal error” for a film to focus on a narrative alone. If a film only focuses on a narrative it would miss out on every other important part that makes up the movie. Every movie is unique in its interpretation of its narrative and perspective. Each film experience is different and special. Film elaborates and enhances the literature experience. It is a film’s job to do this enhancement or it would not provide an experience different than a novel. Film does not need to rely on its narrative, as it’s just one element. A good narrative can lead to a great movie, but a movie with poor narrative or none at all can still be one of the best movies of all time (considering it had advanced film technologies). The movie Amelie was one of the most innovative and whimsical movies I’ve ever seen, as it used a multitude of different film technologies from the close-up, the slow-down, and the long shot. These film technologies were used to help its audience re-examine and appreciate the little things in life and the events that often go unnoticed or just are not talked about. The film is also very random and does not rely on a strong narrative. For example, Amelie’s life changes when she hears of Princess Diana’s death. However, her life doesn’t change because she is saddened by this shocking death, but because she drops what she is holding and finds a box of treasures of a boy that once lived there. The narrative does not connect, but the film technologies used in Amelie are fascinating and that is what makes the movie as great as it is today. If Benjamin was alive to see the film Amelie, he would have probably agreed that this film allows for a unique intimate experience just like the experience of seeing an original piece of art. It’s really quite impressive.
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