My first trip to Berlin is drawing to a close and have discovered a really wonderful European city. How is it that I have not been here earlier?
One of the things that struck me was the many empty spaces in the city – these spaces could be everything from gravel, to cared lawns to something resembling a summer field in the countryside. Some had remains of concrete structures giving them the appearance of some half-hearted archeological dig.
But one thing that got me thinking (and linking to other research) was the lingering presence of the Berlin Wall. Not the fact that Checkpoint Charlie has been turned into a tourist carnival where people can stand on the balcony of McDonalds and take pictures of fake GIs who want money for this.
No what struck me was the section of wall remaining on Niederkirchnerstraße where cartloads of tourists going to the amazing outdoor Topographie des Terrors exhibition – despite the crowds its very silent there, everyone there reads the texts in thoughtful silence.
Most of the visitors took pictures of this sad old concrete wall. It is “the Berlin Wall” but it is just mass produced concrete. What is it that makes this gray concrete more memorable, more worthy of interest and photography than the equally gray wall opposite? Both walls are equally original as neither was created as a copy of the other. But the difference lies in the purpose of the object – the intent of its creator. This is what differentiates to similar pieces of concrete.
In addition to the intent – we the consumers must place some form of value (economic or emotional or ?) in the “original” (the word original is wrong in this context but you know what I mean). Maybe this is something closer to a trademark? Luxury trademark items produce endless amounts of “originals” without necessarily effecting the market – the demand-ability is kept high by maintaining a high price for the good… but I digress…
One of the arguments in the digital discussion is the complex copy/original problem – which basically states that in the digital environment everything is copy. But this is equally true of pieces of concrete. They are equal and the same. They are dissimilar only in the intention of the creator.
And if this is so could this situation be re-created with digital products? Or have I missed something? Need more thought here.