Artifact: PL 5

While I was reading the chapter on reproductions of art, I recalled visiting Paris and witnessing the sight of the "true", original Mona Lisa. Spectators were asked not to take flash photos of the artwork, both to preserve the copy as well as to be courteous to other guests of the museum. What I found interesting was the ways in which people reacted to the sight of the original Mona Lisa. Despite the rule against flash photography, nearly everybody took photos, even if it got them kicked out of the museum. It got me thinking about the purpose of taking the photo of the painting--a photo of the painting is, essentially, a reprint of the work, and it is probably no better than the quality of a cheap reprint one can buy in the museum souvenir shop. In fact, it is probably worse quality, especially considering that this was 2005 and digital cameras were not nearly as high-tech as they are now.

Even though guards were kicking people out left and right of the exhibit due to their breaking of the rules, it didn't stop anybody that really wanted a photo of the "true" Mona Lisa. It also reminded me that many people take the museum's word for granted. They could have falsely advertised the "true" Mona Lisa and displayed a reprint, and many of the guests would have been fooled. Though true art scholars may not have been, it seemed that many of the guests were not art scholars and probably wouldn't have noticed a difference. There is obviously a fixation with original pieces of art--as seen by the mad museum crowds and the prices of original art pieces--even if the reprint is more accessible. For example, in my house, my parents only display original artwork from their favorite folk artists. They have followed the artist Will Moses all around the state to purchase his original artwork and to have his picture books signed.

I wonder if we like original artwork because it makes us feel richer and more elite, or if we prefer it simply because we're told we should. There is a similar phenomenon with "fake" and "real" purses. Some people would say, "a purse is a purse," but others would admit that it's all about the label. I have to admit, I'd prefer the label--but I'm trying to rhetorically analyze why that is, and I'm coming up short.