Week 3: Robotics and Art

 The topic for this week struck a chord with me because as an engineer mechanization and reproduction are all around me but the concept of robbing a work of its uniqueness because of mechanization had not occured to me. Walter Benjamin talks about the fact that reproducing a work of art necessarily robs it of the element of time and space where that work of art is produced (1). This is true, but I would disaggree with the premise that this a problem, as works of art aquire more meaning throughout time and space and because of their reproduction, which further enhances their uniqueness, not diminish it.

Take for example Ode to Joy by Beethoven. 


Folsom Symphony and Sacramento Master Singers Beethoven Symphony No.9 "Choral" Movement IV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdWyYn0E4Ys

Widely regarded as a collosal work, both to play and to sing, it was described as having recieved so thunderous applauses that musician's had to alert a deaf Beethoven to turn around in appreciation (2). It had collosal appeal before it was shown to an audience even, with sketches of melodic lines by Beethoven himself being as beautiful in their messiness as they were difficult to read, as he couldn't hear his own piece so he had to sketch it on paper. (3) But it was after it's reproduction, and it's increased meaning that the very prelude of the fourth movement gained special meaning

European Anthem, Beethoven, Opening European Cultural Capital Aarhus  2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqwKJ_HMSWw

For a continent who was ravaged by war twice in less than thirty years and was trying to signal to itself the need for unity and peace even in different people, it was paramount to use a piece that symbolized this meaning in both its quiet moments and its thunderous happiness. What better piece than one with both thunderous highs and quiet pianissimos and a poem sung with the following lines Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt(All that custom has divided; All men become brothers Under the sway of thy gentle wings.) Customs can't divide us anymore and we will coexist and be unified in peace. History had to occur for this to take place, for Europe to be both ravaged by war and unified in cooperation and peace. Beethoven's piece gained meaning by existing and being reproduced in the ether not by staying in place. After all the anthem itself has no lyrics, but the meaning comes across anyway.  That's what makes it unique. Uniqueness doesn't come from the piece itself but from the meaning we ascribe to it. And that comes with time and yes reproduction(4) (5) 

(1) Bejamin, Walter. " The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" (1936)

(2) Johnson, Steve. “The Remarkable Story of Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony No. 9 and the 'Ode to Joy'.” Classic FM, 12 Mar. 2020, https://www.classicfm.com/composers/beethoven/music/symphony-no-9-d-minor/.

(3) Cook, Nicholas, and Friedrich von Schiller. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

(4) Service, Members' Research. “Beethoven's Ode to Joy: From Musical Masterpiece to European Anthem.” Epthinktank, Epthinktank, 12 May 2021, https://epthinktank.eu/2021/05/13/beethovens-ode-to-joy-from-musical-masterpiece-to-european-anthem/.

(5) Carnegie Hall, translator. All Together, A Global Ode to Joy, Carnegie Hall/ Weill Institute, New York, NY, 2020.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 16, 2022 at 3:34 PM

    I thought your view on reproduction and uniqueness using the example of music was so interesting! Music gains meaning over time and even though pieces may be reproduced by different musicians, for iconic pieces such as those by Beethoven, nobody will ever forget the original. As a big fan of instrumental music myself, I often listen to piano covers of songs from popular artists such as Harry Styles or Taylor Swift. Even when I am listening to these covers, I still know who the original song is by because they are so iconic. Reproduction of music allows for new musicians to add their own twist to already existing songs, honoring and promoting them. I love that you concluded by emphasizing that uniqueness doesn't come from a specific piece, but rather the meaning that we ascribe to it. Great post!

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