Benjamin starts by talking about the physical existence of the original and then compares this to the copy. The main differences between the two will be the degradation over time for the original and it’s this that confirms the artefacts genuineness. This is true because it first of all places the artefact at a specific time and it also means it has its own history, where as the copy would not exhibit any of these qualities. This then means the original has a form of genuineness that can’t be copied.

But by making copies of the artefact, the work of art becomes more accessible, but it also diminishes its genuineness. It devalues its genuineness but does not eradicate it because the copy challenges the uniqueness of the work of art but a copy cannot reproduce the effects of time and ownership on the work of art.

Benjamin then goes on to mention about the work of art having an aura. The aura is mainly produced by the presence of the artwork, along with its genuineness and uniqueness. The aura of an artefact is affected by a copy, all three aspects are, but the copy also challenges the cultural traditions of which it was placed.

So it could seem that making copies is detrimental to the original and in some ways it is, but a copy makes the work of art much more accessible. A good example is that I have never seen The Birth of Venus by Botticelli but I know what it looks like and can truly appreciate it because I have seen copies. Without these copies I would probably be unaware of its existence, so the artwork has become more accessible, which is a huge benefit but at the cost of having its aura reduced.

Another aspect; which is intriguing, is that by copying the artwork it is also being removed from its own tradition. A good example is that a 16th century painting is copied in a book or a catalogue and then a small article is required to explain the cultural and historical heritage. It has been removed from its own context.

This is another point that relates to photography, when a photograph is taken it catches an image that is in front of the lens. This image is then removed from its context and is reproduced elsewhere, for instance onto social media where usually a sentence explains what the image is about.

So, by photographing the scene in front of me, by copying it, I am reducing the aura of the scene, its being diminished. The cultural and traditional aspects of the scene are weakened, but the accessibility of the scene can then be increased infinitely, depending how many times the photograph is copied.