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Artwork for Ideas
Ideas · August 28 · 54 min

How a German philosopher predicted our digital age

What happens when original artworks become endless copies? German philosopher Walter Benjamin called it the death of "aura," and his concept predicted our digital age. He describes "aura" as the energy that encases an object, and argued standing before the presence of a great artwork was transcendent. His ideas continue to flourish in university settings around the world. *This episode originally aired on Oct. 2, 2025.

0:00-54:08

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What happens when original artworks become endless copies? German philosopher Walter Benjamin called it the death of "aura," and his concept predicted our digital age. He describes "aura" as the energy that encases an object, and argued standing before the presence of a great artwork was transcendent. His ideas continue to flourish in university settings around the world. *This episode originally aired on Oct. 2, 2025.