When something is reproduced for so many times is that art? What’s the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society?

 When we think of art we thinking creativity and imagination. It is a form of self-expression that captures and expresses the artist emotions, experiences, and personal views on subjects. Art is never absolute and is subjected to open interpretation by others who view it. Original works of art are unique and authentic. The artist conceptualizes an idea and transfers this idea from their minds onto something physical and tangible—such as paintings, sculptures and architectures. When art is taken from its original form and reproduced it loses its integrity, value and authenticity; they are merely copies. Unlike the original, reproduced art lacks the creative effort and intention of the artist.

Mass produced art allows for the artist to be recognized and become more commercial by gaining popular appeal. Their work is readily available to general public and not locked up in frames and glass cases in museums and galleries. The notion of reproducibility, however, poses negative impacts on society by way of counterfeiting and fraud. Replicas and counterfeit goods are becoming an issue and are affecting the world’s economy on a global scale. People who do not own the rights to reproduce a particular piece of work are committing crimes and that in turn affects society as whole.

 Is photography art, or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists?

Photography is both art and a contribution to the art. Photography is more than just taking pictures, it is about capturing the raw and unique moments, moments that cannot be recreated—unless of course it is forced, but even then the moment itself would never be the same as the original shot itself. Like a painting, photographs can be open to interpretation. Photographs possess the capacity to capture we see and do not see. Artists conceptualize an idea and execute in various mediums that enable them to express their messages and ideas across to viewers; For example, a painter expresses their ideas on to canvas with a paintbrush. Photography is no different. The photographer is the artist and the camera is their medium of choice. Together, the final product is the photographer’s output of their creative visions.

Photography can also be a contribution to the arts. The advancement of digital technology has allowed photos to be manipulated in ways that further expresses the artist’s creative ideas. Mixed media is very common in art. Using variety of medium to express our ideas creates depth and texture. It makes the images rather interesting. It is common for designers to manipulate original images in photo-manipulation software’s such as Photoshop. It allows the designer to alter and or enhance their ideas digitally.

 

How and why Henry Pitch Robinson created  “Fading Away”? What was the reason?

Robinson’s “Fading Away” depicts the peaceful death of a dying girl. The image consists of five negatives that are pieced together individually, as during this time (1858) there were no mean of enlarging photographs. The scene, however, was staged and the subjects were asked to pose in a certain way that depicts a grieving family. It was creative in the sense that it came from Robinson’s imagination. But because it was staged, the photo lacks the element of truth.

I think the reason why Robinson created such a controversial piece was to show that photography, too, can depict controversial topics. During those times, paintings of controversial subjects were accepted art. Photographs, on the other hand, were seen raw recorded proofs of incidents. It was real and never manipulated. To create such a painful touches the emotions of many people and thus people had no choice but to react to such a controversial setting.

 

Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization?

The advancement in technology has revolutionalized the way we see art. Through digitalization, art can now be easily manipulated and reproduced. We are able to share our photos through the web and through social media. Media professionals such as advertisers and journalists are able to digitally output their images using technology as oppose to painting and drawing the traditional way—by hand.