The Age of Mechanical reproduction

a. Walter Benjamin describes and authentic work of art as having an "aura". He uses and example of a mountain range on the horizon or the shadow cast by a branch.

It is the essence of a thing, it's history,"it's unique existence in time and place", its ritual function.

b. before the advent of film and photography most art had a ritual function. From the magical purpose of cave paintings (the animals being "birthed" into existence), to objects, images used in religious services and worship, to the portrait which is of the ritual of remembering loved ones.

Art has transitioned from having a ritual purpose to exhibition purpose. It is art for art's sake, that is pure and autonomous, not reliant on a social purpose. In film the audience becomes separated from the work itself and is seeing the work through the camera's lens instead of first hand experienced. The viewer becomes a critic.