Digital and technological developments have vastly changed the process, display, and reception of art making since the dawn of time. Sculptural form changed as stone tools were introduced, woodcut allowed for graphic art to be reproducible, and later photography easily captured life with a complexity the hand could not keep up with. At this point in time we are witnessing an technological advancement regarding art created by artificial intelligence. Though these pieces are derived from databases of preexisting images, AI art eliminates the work of the entire creative process. A creative process that I would argue is what makes art art - it gives the piece its aura. As Walter Benjamin states within the text, "That which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art." While this is a true statement, I think value can be found in reproduction (that is not artificially generated) without reducing the value of the original.
Technological advancements made by our society have so normally permeated our lives, removing steps and replacing them with the press of a button. The biggest catalyst of this notion is social media. This is another technological advancement that has changed the the way art can be viewed and shared. Social media has opened a door for unlimited viewership as it can be easily accessed by billions of users spanning the globe.
Now that we've become addicted to viewing a screen we introduce new ways to view them. The introduction of virtual reality has changed the way art can be viewed as well. You are now able to view a version of the Mona Lisa in VR that rendered to mimic Da Vinci's original creative processes and painting techniques. This concept feels dystopian and inauthentic, as it alters its aura and the way its perceived. But, who is to say a change of artistic aura is inherently negative? A close-up, immersive view of a piece could allow you to notice things you didn't before. Being ant size in the presence of a giant Mona Lisa would allow you to examine every hue and brushstroke. Although it may not be the true original it is an experience in itself to see a piece in a new way. This is similar to the recent immersive Van Gogh exhibit where projections of his pieces were displayed. We are all familiar with his work, but being completely immersed in it generates a new aura of its own. An exhibit like this was unthinkable in Van Gogh's time. With new technology we are able to observe and feel art in a different capacity.
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