Jackie Roving’s Reviews > Illuminations: Essays and Reflections > Status Update

The mass reproduction of images creates a double-edged dynamic: it democratizes access to art and culture, but also manufactures artificial auras around commodities and public figures — think movie stars and politicians whose power rests more on curated imagery than any unique function.

Statesmen especially exploit this, using media to reinforce sovereignty through sheer visual repetition.

When one translates or carries over information, they often only carry what they deem authentic or valuable about the thing. This makes it so there can truly never be a perfect translation of a thing, since what is seen as useless will be discarded. Furthermore, finding what is authentic is a fruitless venture, because one will only find what speaks to them. However, some translations do more justice to the original.