Back to All Events

BICA School Reading Group: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

  • The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art 30d Essex Street Buffalo, NY, 14222 United States (map)

Open to All | Free to Join | No Registration Required

Join us at BICA School for a casual, come-as-you-are reading group that welcomes everyone—whether you’ve read the text cover to cover or just want to hear what others have to say. We’ll explore critical and curious texts together in a space that values open conversation, listening, and learning.

Read ahead if you can, but there’s no pressure to be an expert—just bring your thoughts, questions, and curiosity.

→ Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” In Illuminations, edited by Hannah Arendt, translated by Harry Zohn, 217–251. New York: Schocken Books, 1968.

What happens to art when it’s no longer one-of-a-kind? What do photography, film, and mass production do to the “aura” of a work?

In this landmark essay, Walter Benjamin argues that technologies of reproduction—starting with photography—don’t just change how art is distributed; they change what art is. From politics to perception, authenticity to accessibility, Benjamin’s provocative ideas continue to shape conversations about art, media, and culture nearly a century later.

Expect big ideas, bold claims, and plenty to discuss.

Previous
Previous
October 4

Arts for Something, October

Next
Next
October 25

BICA Gala 2025: I WANT TO BELIEVE