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Walter Benjamin: Critical Life and Intellectual Legacy

Ivan Cox

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Early Life and Education

Walter Benjamin was born on July 15, 1892, in Berlin, Germany. He was the son of a wealthy Jewish businessman. Benjamin showed a keen interest in learning from an early age and attended some of the best schools in Berlin. He studied philosophy, literature, and art history at the universities of Berlin, Freiburg, and Munich.

Intellectual Development

Benjamin's intellectual development was influenced by a wide range of thinkers, including Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Georg Lukács. He was particularly interested in the relationship between art and society and the role of the critic in interpreting and evaluating works of art.

Walter Benjamin: A Critical Life

by Howard Eiland

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	766 pages

In 1919, Benjamin published his first major work, "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." This essay argued that the advent of new technologies, such as photography and film, was changing the way that people experienced and understood art. Benjamin believed that these technologies were democratizing art by making it more accessible to a wider audience but also warned that they could lead to the commodification and devaluation of art.

Exile and Later Years

Benjamin was a vocal critic of the Nazi regime in Germany. In 1933, he was forced to flee Germany and spent the rest of his life in exile. He lived in France, Spain, and the United States. During this time, he wrote some of his most important works, including "Theses on the Philosophy of History" and "Illuminations."

In 1940, Benjamin was arrested by the French authorities and interned in a concentration camp. He committed suicide on September 26, 1940, to avoid being extradited to Germany.

Legacy

Walter Benjamin's work has had a profound impact on twentieth-century thought. He is considered one of the most important and influential thinkers of his time. His work continues to be studied and debated today by scholars in a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, literature, art history, and cultural studies.

Some of Benjamin's key ideas include:

The concept of the aura: Benjamin believed that every work of art has an "aura," which is a unique and irreplaceable quality that is lost when the work is reproduced. He argued that the aura is what makes a work of art truly special and valuable.
The relationship between art and society: Benjamin believed that art is not simply a reflection of society but rather a force that can shape and change society. He argued that art can challenge the status quo and inspire people to imagine a better future.
The role of the critic: Benjamin believed that the critic is not simply a passive observer of art but rather an active participant in its creation. He argued that the critic's job is to help people understand and appreciate art and to use it as a tool for social change.

Benjamin's work is a rich and complex body of thought that has provided scholars with new ways of understanding art, society, and history. He is one of the most important and influential thinkers of the twentieth century, and his work continues to be relevant today.