The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction [Paperback]

Walter Benjamin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2009

The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction written by legendary author Walter Benjamin is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest books of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Walter Benjamin is highly recommended. Published by Classic House Books and beautifully produced, The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library.

Product Details

• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1448670438
• ISBN-13: 978-1448670437
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Walter Bendix Schonflies Benjamin (1892 -- 1940) was a German-Jewish Marxist literary critic, essayist, translator, and philosopher. He was at times associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory and was also greatly inspired by the Marxism of Bertolt Brecht and Jewish mysticism as presented by Gershom Scholem.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and Free., February 10, 2011

By 

G. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (Great Ideas) (Kindle Edition)

Walter Benjamin's assessment of the nature and the value of art in juxtaposition to an industrial, materialistic, and modernizing world is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of communications media and the arts in society. Without this essay, the work of many modern critics, including Marshall McLuhan and Frederic Jameson, among others, would never have been conceived.

But remember, Benjamin was a socialist. His writing is in the public domain and available free of charge here (regardless of what country you're in):
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm

I appreciate the role that Amazon has had in the dissemination of information at the dawn of the digital age, despite their primarily commercial interests. It is unfortunate that the US falls prey to unjust copyright regulations that limit access to freely available content, essentially holding knowledge hostage and demanding ransom. I hope this review will not be taken down.

19 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You Wanna Be Smarter Obviously, You're Thinking Of Buying This Book, September 5, 2009

By 

R.S. Encaustic (GA , USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Work of Art in The Age of Mechanical Reproduction (Paperback)

Your first step in that direction would be not to buy this book. This essay is available in "Illuminations" along with a host of others for just a little more money. $9.95 for a 36 page essay? Prove how smart you are.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern version of a classic, January 11, 2011

By 

Drake Donegal - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (Paperback)

What can I say? This is a modern print version of the classic work on art in modern capitalist society. It's a must read for anyone interested in the subject, Walter Benjamin, or just the effect the evolution of society has on art and vice versa. For the few dollars it costs, it's more than worth it.