Irony of Art
The author has highlighted the ironical production of art on a large scale during the 20th century. Art was being produced like products are made in a factory. Walter Benjamin has demonstrated how art was losing its value and aesthetic appeal owing to its rapid production and the loss of uniqueness. In the past, there were statues which were placed in temples, sacred places or museums but now art is circulated in various forms in all parts of the world. There were the statues of Mona Lisa or David which were unique and had aesthetic appeal but now the art forms have transformed. The paintings have been replaced by photographs and films which appeal the spectators in a different way.
Irony of Manipulation
There is an irony in the utilization of art by the politicians to achieve their desired aims. The author has stated that art is being used as a means to instill certain ideologies in the masses. The politicians control the exhibition and pass on the desired messages and propagate certain ideologies. Films are one such form of art which is used to distract and divert the public attention from important issues. Walter Benjamin asserts that in an era of mechanical production of art, where aesthetic and traditional values of art are not considered, the art is formed on the basis of praxis of politics. Along with this, he considers the advancement in arts, as a tool for masses to grasp the social and political realities but the irony is that art contemplates man instead of being contemplated by man. It is ironical that the object consumes man instead of only entertaining him.
Irony of the Aura
In the past, the value of a work of art was based on its uniqueness. Walter Benjamin has described this uniqueness as its aura. The works of art were not reproduced by putting its value on stake. The artists never comprised on quality by providing an economically feasible art. It is ironical that the art in the 20th century was being produced by taking the economic factors into account. The art had lost its value, its aura and its traditional and ritualistic importance owing to its replication. The value shifted from uniqueness to economic importance and the authenticity was lost. The painting has lost its aura by being transformed into a picture. The practice of making identical copies of original art is also ironical because it had altered the ideology of art in society. Benjamin says, "even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: Its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be." Art loses its value by relying on exhibition instead of its cult qualities.
Irony of News
According to the author, it is ironical that "Every morning brings us news of the globe, and yet we are poor in noteworthy stories. This is because no event comes to us without being already shot through with explanation. In other words, by now almost nothing that happens benefits storytelling; almost everything benefits information. Actually, it is half the art of storytelling to keep a story free from explanation as one reproduces it." The mechanical production has affected the news as well which are being distorted by people and the stories which are narrated regarding an incident are not real ones. They are amalgamated with various explanations.
