The unbearable durability of the aura. Benjamin’s attempt at Marxist aesthetics reconsidered
Prof. Adam Lipszyc

In his famous essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”, Walter Benjamin made an attempt at creating – in his opinion – the first truly Marxist philosophy of art. In the centre of his ideas, there is the concept of aura, defined as a result of the irremovable gap created by a work of art.

According to the famous hypothesis by Benjamin, in the age of mechanical reproduction, the aura – as a sign of art rooted in worship practices – would disappear. At the same time, a new path to the post-aura art, founded on political practice, would be open. During this lecture, I suggest we subject this concept to a thorough and critical analysis, against the background of earlier essays by Benjamin, consider its values and limitations, and asking about its relevance and possible modifications which could help to revive it.