Destruction of the Aura of Art in Andy Warhol’s Works

Abstract

Since the 20th century, along with the introduction of innovations, society has seen the processes of ignoring/destroying/transforming the values of previous historical stages of development. The changes that have been taking place are controversial, which makes us investigate them in order to preserve/restore the best of the past. The sphere of art and the phenomenon of the aura of a work of art were chosen as the object of this research. The paper applies the phenomenological, analytical and biographical methods. They help to describe the phenomenon of the aura of a work of art, identify some of the reasons for its origination, reveal the causes of its disappearance/transformation in modern times and consider the situation on the basis of the philosophical and aesthetic position and works of the representative of pop art Andy Warhol. It should be noted that the aura is something difficult to comprehend. Originating in the process of creating a work of art, it (immaterially) manifests itself when the work is being perceived. The origins of the aura are traced to the author: due to his/her individual characteristics and creative resources, the work of art acquires its uniqueness and philosophical poetry. In modern conditions, the artist’s use of devices (audio/video and document-reproduction/digital) and technologies, as well as constant replication of art lead to the transformation or disappearance of the aura. The latter fact was pointed out as early as in 1936 by W. Benjamin. To illustrate this phenomenon, the paper studies the works of Andy Warhol, who actively used technology and various devices to create them. As a result, his pieces of art are devoid of the aura, their perception by the audience is alienated. Moreover, Warhol himself, having deliberately turned into a man-machine, felt no joy from the process. A similar analysis can be used to study other forms of art and creators. The results of the analysis will help in constructing the concept of the aura of art and describing this phenomenon, in understanding the transformation of the aura in contemporary works, as well as in finding ways to bring the aura to life in the creative process.