The technique of reproduction detaches the reproduced object from the domain of tradition. By making many reproductions it substitutes a plurality of copies for a unique existence. And in permitting the reproduction to meet the beholder or listener in his own particular situation, it reactivates the object reproduced. These two processes lead to a tremendous shattering of tradition which is the obverse of the contemporary crisis and renewal of mankind.
This reminds me of the idea of character archetypes in literature. There are certain characters with recurring traits that can be found throughout many stories, both in the past and present. Although these archetypes are not completely detached from each other and their basis, they are still very different. One character could be vastly different from a character of the same archetype because they each have different backstories, experiences, and goals. In this way, even though they are both replicas of the same general archetype, they revive it by showing it in a new way.