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The cult value is specific to original images, dependant on the rituals with which the work of art is made available to the viewer. - Example: the God statue which is only accessible to priests – The artistic production begins with images which serve the cult. One can assume that for these images, it is more important that they exist than that they are seen. The technical reproduction uses this relationship on the basis of the characteristics given above. It brings what was until then hidden and difficult to access into the clear view of the public. The cult value with its ritualized usage habits is replaced by the display value, which allows for mass consumption.

“In photography, the display value starts to displace the cult value across the board.” (Benjamin, Walter 1977).