Power of Replication

Following on from my last post, and the question I failed to answer in 'is the Aura now redundant?' I thought I would look a bit more in depth at the flip side of 'Aura' which is image replication.

Today, Images are everywhere, piped onto screens, print and even the sides of building in advertisements. Does the constant bombardment dilute or enhance our understanding of images? I am guilty of this myself in my media product where I have taken established pictures or paintings and crafted them to suit what I want to portray.

I remember a quick Internet search for the Mona Lisa when trying to get an image for my art gallery, and the results were quite strange. several homages were also listed, for example below,

And I don't know if it is my old age but, I personally think it cheapens the original. I understand the humor etc, but it does dilute the image also. In this age where anyone can take ownership and modify an image it can also confuse or distract. I take an example where only just last Christmas an advertisement showed the 3 wise men using a sat nav to get to jesus' stable for Argos or something. In a quiz for primary children a few months later, children incorrectly answered that 'Sat-nav' was how the 3 wise men found Jesus rather than 'Followed a star'

Everything is now online, and even Art Galleries are starting to do 'Online virtual tours' so you don't have to leave your home to view art. Even though I'm a big Advocate of digital art, (seeing as I'm hopeless at traditional art) even I think that is quite sad. People are too 'busy' to want or care at seeing an original art piece, or even take in a beautiful night sky unless its on on the 'night sky' channel, (I don't think there is one but I could be wrong). I find it all quite disappointing and before I rant on again I think ill end this post.