Sid Meier's Civilization

Sid Meier's Civilization (Courtesy: gazettereview.com)

Side Meier's Civilization V

The Civilization franchise is a revered game series in which computer players can build their own civilization and engage in turn based strategy while war's are waged, and history takes its course. Personally I have never played any of the civilization games before, but am familiar with the turn based strategy structure that Age of Empire and Starcraft are based upon. For anyone who is into gaming, these are great games to play that involve critical thinking and tremendous patience to reach certain milestones. The game using history as its frame of reference, infuses many historical events around the graphic design and structure of the civilization franchise. For those who appreciate period based games, this is one to play. From the gameplay posted on the official Civilization website, the graphics are sharp as well as visually appealing. Sid Meier and his team do a great job blending the graphic art with technology for a new Civilization game every few years.

Walter Benjamin's The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Walter Benjamin, author, philosopher and cultural critic shown above
(Courtesy: http://image.slidesharecdn.com)

Walter Benjamin's essay, The work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction brings attention to technological innovation and its impact on art. He uses art forms such as photographic negatives, lithography, and copperplate etching to describe how imitation has become more prevalent over the years. Stemming from mass production, curiosity, greed and self-interest, replication have always existed.

Benjamin argues that in principle, all works of art are able to be replicated. With many objects, structures, paintings or drawings, this is perhaps true, however, there are exceptions to this principle. Many pictures are considered works of art, featuring a specific time or event that transpired. In the example of a volcanic eruption, an event that occurs very rarely, it would be difficult for someone to reproduce a picture that someone took on a specific day, time, angle, lighting, etc.  Even if the imitator managed to meet all the same criteria, there is such a minute statistical chance that someone would be able to get an identical picture. In the sense that someone could digitally scan the picture or use a negative and "replicate" it, is a possibility but is still a challenge to physically recreate.

There are many forms of art, some easier to imitate than others and some not. In my opinion, performance art is not replicable. It can be imitated but not 100% replicated. Stage performers can practice and rehearse their routine as frequently as possible yet will not be able to perform the same time with consistency. Each interaction with other performers, the physical condition of the performer at the time, mood, and attention to detail are all contributing factors that make replication almost impossible. Overall, my take on the matter leaves me to believe that Walter Benjamin is wrong in stating all works of are replicable. There are certain forms of art that are unique in that they are not replicable by the nature of their appearance, circumstances, or properties.

Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Modern Art and Modernism. Auckland, N.Z.: PhotoForum, 2007. 218-20. Print.