Two ways to experience art. — In Walter Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, we find that there are two ways to experience art: The way the “distracted mass” experiences art and the way a true appreciator experiences art. While the former absorbs art, the latter is absorbed by it. “This is at the bottom the same ancient lament that the masses seek distraction whereas art demands concentration from the spectator.” The masses expect one thing from a work of art — to be entertained by it. They want their art to be simple and straightforward (with only an illusion of depth and complexity). On the other hand, “a man who concentrates before a work of art is absorbed by it. He enters into this work of art…” He swims in it, gets lost in it, interacts with it. He even participates in the process of artistic creation without perturbing the work of art. (This takes place in the mind of the art appreciator, of course.)

Freedom of speech. — The following sentence can help us understand what really takes place on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), for example. The sentence is: “Fascism sees its salvation in giving these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves.” On social media, everyone has an opinion; unfortunately, however, opinions only appear to matter when they really don’t. (I have yet to hear someone has “changed sides” after being persuaded on social media that he was wrong all this time supporting a certain politician or other. Is it not only propaganda that makes one really change sides?) What we need to remember is this: Freedom of speech doesn’t necessarily mean freedom of thought. To end this, here’s another quote from The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: “The public is an examiner, but an absent-minded one.”