Of course we've been hearing from beginning of this century how the theatre is dead, dying, we've been going to the funeral for years. Mechanical reproduction eventually wearies them and they seek, and continue to be stirred by performances onstage. They always will. The subsequent invention and use of the phonograph, film, radio, television, tapes, cassettes, CD's, VCR's, CD ROM, etc. has enabled us to document and record for posterity. In the case of the visual arts, the development of printing at a far earlier date enabled drawings and eventually paintings to be copied and reproduced.
Reproductions are tools that can be used in varied ways.
Reproductions can whet the appetite for the real thing. They can provide information about the art they portray. If multimedia reproductions make art more approachable, those who see the reproduction will want to see originals. Exposure to the reproductions is likely to increase rather than diminish reverence for real art and encourage more people to get out to museums and galleries. TOP OF PAGE Reproductions can increase appreciation for the real thing.