WORD: AURA

AURA:
2. b. fig. a distinctive impression of character or aspect.
c. A supposed subtle emanation from and enveloping living persons and things, viewed by mystics as consisting of the essence of the individual, serving as the medium for the operation of mesmeric and similar influences

That art has an aura is subsituting the latter in place of the "authenticity" of a piece of work. Benjamin defines aura as, "the unique apparition of a distance, however it may be" or the "uniqueness [of an artwork]." At the end of the text in the notes, it expands on the definition of "aura." 8. "In Greek, aura means "air," "breath" 11. "The defintion of the aura represents nothing more than a formulation of the cult value of the work of art..." But not only is an aura authenticity, it also has a certain "essence" to it that "breathes" life. Reproduction lacks the life of the premier. Benjamin says that"even in the most perfect reproduction, one thing is lacking: the here and now." The most interesting thing though about Benjamin's usage of aura is in the second OED definition, "serving as the medium for the operation of mesmeric and similar influences."