Walter Benjamin
Full Name and Common Aliases
Walter Bendix Schönflies Benjamin, commonly known as Walter Benjamin, was a German Jewish philosopher, cultural critic, and essayist. His work is often associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory, although he maintained a unique and independent perspective throughout his career.
Birth and Death Dates
Walter Benjamin was born on July 15, 1892, in Berlin, Germany, and he died on September 26, 1940, in Portbou, Spain, under tragic circumstances that remain a subject of historical inquiry and debate.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Walter Benjamin was a German national. He was a philosopher, cultural critic, essayist, and literary critic. His intellectual pursuits spanned a wide array of disciplines, including literature, art, history, and media theory.
Early Life and Background
Walter Benjamin was born into a prosperous Jewish family in Berlin. His father, Emil Benjamin, was a successful businessman, which afforded Walter a comfortable upbringing. He attended the Kaiser Friedrich School in Charlottenburg and later studied philosophy at the University of Freiburg, the University of Berlin, and the University of Bern. Benjamin's early academic endeavors were marked by a deep engagement with German Romanticism and the works of Immanuel Kant.
During his university years, Benjamin became involved with the German Youth Movement, which emphasized cultural renewal and personal authenticity. This involvement was pivotal in shaping his early intellectual development. However, disillusionment with the movement's direction led him to distance himself from it, marking the beginning of his lifelong quest for intellectual independence.
Major Accomplishments
Walter Benjamin's major accomplishments lie in his profound contributions to cultural criticism and philosophy. He is best known for his innovative ideas on the nature of art, history, and society. His work often explored the intersection of culture and politics, and he was particularly interested in how technological advancements, such as photography and film, were transforming the nature of art and perception.
One of Benjamin's significant accomplishments was his development of the concept of the "aura" in art, which he discussed in his seminal essay, "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." This concept explored how the unique presence of a work of art is diminished when it is reproduced, a notion that has had a lasting impact on art theory and criticism.
Notable Works or Actions
Walter Benjamin's body of work is both vast and varied, with several notable essays and books that continue to influence contemporary thought. Among his most celebrated works is "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," which examines the implications of mass production on art and culture. Another significant work is "Theses on the Philosophy of History," where Benjamin presents a critical view of historical progress and introduces the concept of the "Angel of History."
His unfinished magnum opus, "The Arcades Project," is a sprawling, fragmented exploration of 19th-century Parisian life, which serves as a lens through which Benjamin examines the emergence of modernity. This work remains a cornerstone of cultural and urban studies.
Impact and Legacy
Walter Benjamin's impact on philosophy, cultural criticism, and literary theory is profound and enduring. His ideas have influenced a wide range of fields, including media studies, art history, and critical theory. Benjamin's work is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach, blending philosophy, literature, and sociology in a manner that was ahead of its time.
His legacy is also marked by his tragic death. Fleeing the Nazi regime, Benjamin attempted to escape to the United States via Spain. Facing the threat of deportation back to Nazi-occupied France, he took his own life in Portbou, Spain. This tragic end has contributed to the mythos surrounding his life and work, underscoring the precariousness of intellectual freedom in times of political oppression.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Walter Benjamin is widely quoted and remembered for his profound insights into the nature of art, culture, and history. His ability to articulate complex ideas in a compelling and accessible manner has made his work a touchstone for scholars and thinkers across disciplines. Benjamin's exploration of the effects of technology on art and his critical approach to history continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about media, culture, and society.
His poignant reflections on the human condition, coupled with his tragic life story, have cemented his status as a seminal figure in 20th-century thought. Benjamin's work challenges readers to reconsider the relationship between culture and politics, making his ideas as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
Quotes by Walter Benjamin
Walter Benjamin's insights on:
Of all the ways of acquiring books, writing them oneself is regarded as the most praiseworthy method. Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like.
A bearer of news of death appears to himself as very important. His feeling – even against all reason – makes him a messenger from the realm of the dead.
Every passion borders on the chaotic, but the collector’s passion borders on the chaos of memories.
Like a clock of life on which the seconds race, the page number hangs over the characters in a novel. Where is the reader who has not once lifted to it a fleeting, fearful glance?
Pessimism all along the line. Absolutely. Mistrust in the fate of literature, mistrust in the fate of freedom, mistrust in the fate of European humanity, but three times mistrust in all reconciliation: between classes, between nations, between individuals. And unlimited trust only in IG Farben and the peaceful perfecting of the air force. But what now? What next?
Not architecture alone but all technology is, at certain stages, evidence of a collective dream.
In other words, the unique value of the “authentic” work of art has its basis in ritual, the location of its original use value. This ritualistic basis, however remote, is still recognizable as secularized ritual even in the most profane forms of the cult of beauty.
There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism. And just as such a document is not free of barbarism, barbarism taints also the manner in which it was transmitted. A historical materialist therefore dissociates himself from it as far as possible. He regards it as his task to brush history against the grain.
From this story it may be seen what the nature of true storytelling is. The value of information does not survive the moment in which it was new. It lives only at that moment; it has to surrender to it completely and explain itself to it without losing any time. A story is different. It does not expend itself. It preserves and concentrates its strength and is capable of releasing it even after a long time.