I realize that I'm posting this less than an hour before class starts, so the chances of someone seeing this are slim, but I'd like to respond to Bill's post... I agree that we are getting back into the t echnical aspects of art with the advent of film. I feel like any time there is a new medium, it's a good idea to explore the technical aspects of the medium (and try to "hide our hands"), and really understand the way that medium works, before exploring the conceptual possibilities of that medium (uhh, sorry if that didn't make any sense...).
Okay, now here are my questions:
1. What is the value of a painting or a drawing in today's society, where we have photography and video and digital art? Do paintings still have a function? I think the essay may have explained this, but I didn't understand.
2. Benjamin talked about the function of art changing in today's society. I just want to clarify... I thought that Benjamin felt that before photography, a piece of art was important because it was a piece of art. Because art was not easily accessible, a painting was precious... sort-of in thte same way that a diamond is precious. And now, after photography, art isn't so precious... more people can view art, so art for the sake of art doesn't really exist any more. So, the purpose of art is... different. I'm not sure what Benjamin said, but I think it's to communicate an idea.
Is this right? Or, am I just putting words into Benjamin's mouth?
