Walter Benjamin Zur Einführung

by Sven Kramer

Für Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), Philosoph und Literaturkritiker, war Denken keine akademische Trockenübung, sondern die entscheidende Form seiner Weltzuwendung. An Schriften wie "Ursprung des deutschen Trauerspiels", "Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit" und dem Fragment gebliebenen "Passagen-Werk" kristallisieren sich auch gegenwärtige Debatten in den Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften. Die Einführung gibt knappe biografische Hinweise und stellt vier zentrale Arbeitsfelder Benjamins ausführlicher vor: seine Sprachtheorie, seine ästhetischen Reflexionen, seine Medientheorie und seine Geschichtstheorie.

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Christian]

I have to read a lot of Adorno in uni, not so much Walter Benjamin, but his name kinda rang around and I read a bit about him which made me intrigued. So when I found this small Introduction I instantly bought it.
Adorno and Benjamin often talked about similar themes, but I prefer Benjamins kind of thinking. He is that anti-pop and anti-film as Adorno, but sees it as an expansion of productive potential (which it is).
What I also found interesting was his view on history. Rather than looking at history as a linear and causal timeline, he proposes to pick out a certain time period and compare it to the present to find solutions. Much more action-oriented than I think of history, but I will try to work by it. In the end he uses "quotes" of history and wants to creates montages of historic circumstances to use in the present.
Sadly Benjamin died too early and too tragically.

[Cassidy Brinn]

author of an introduction shouldn't be so eager not to unduly influence or lead - many long quotes and little direction, almost more like a very minimal reader than a proper introduction