Theoretical Dilemmas of Artistic Originality in the Age of Digital Technology

Abstract

This paper explores the theoretical dilemmas of artistic originality in the age of digital technology. It examines how traditional concepts of authorship, authenticity, and creativity have been reshaped by digital reproduction, algorithmic systems, and networked forms of artmaking. The discussion begins with the modernist inheritance of originality, tracing how the Romantic idea of the artist as a singular genius evolved into a central value of modern art. It then considers how digital reproduction has destabilized the very notion of the “original,” as perfect copies can now circulate endlessly without loss or decay. The analysis extends to algorithmic creativity and the posthuman author, showing how artificial intelligence has turned creation into a shared process between human and machine. The paper also discusses the paradox of digital authenticity, focusing on how blockchain technology and NFTs attempt to restore the “aura” of originality described by Walter Benjamin. Finally, it argues for a relational theory of originality, where creative value lies not in isolation or ownership but in connection, collaboration, and circulation within digital culture. The study concludes that originality today is not lost but transformed, it now exists through relations, systems, and the continuous movement of meaning across human and technological networks.