aura? ritual.

I've been thinking about Benjamin's take on "aura"in art, the elements particular to a piece of art.  Benjamin would argue that this virtual space, the blog, removes the aura present in the drawing's original form. The back and forth exchange between the observer and the work is mediated causing a break with the aura. Aligning myself with Benjamin makes me a luddite, I think. But I agree that mediation through film, photography, and the internet does change the structure of perception.
    So I will hold tight to my exchange rituals. While attending a zine workshop last night, I exchanged drawings for two zines, all auras intact and smiled on Walter Benjamin.