More on Walter Benjamin

In the same essay, Benjamin writes "by the absolute emphasis on its exhibition value the work of art becomes a creation with entirely new functions, among which the one we are conscious of, the artistic function, later may be recognized as incidental."  Benjamin contrasts exhibition value with cult value, which is grounded in ritual and (at least historically) shrouded in secrecy.  He casts these as two poles, between which a quantitative distinction becomes qualitative, perhaps as in a cusp/catastrophe model (my words).  Would love to read of others who have explored the space between these poles (or challenged his conceptualization).
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