In his introduction, Goebel (German, U. of Alabama, Huntsville) offers an extended discussion of the notion of actuality--the currency and relevance of ideas from the past in the present--with regard to the works of Walter Benjamin (1892-1940). The 12 essays that follow continue this theme, as they examine Benjamin's texts, themes, terminologies, and genres to demonstrate their relevance and relationship to currents in modern contemporary media, memory culture, constructions of gender, postcoloniality, and urban topographies. As befits a 'companion', the essays offer in-depth discussion of Benjamin's work and thought, with chapters on such topics as his approach to language and literature, an analysis of Einbahnstrasse, the politics of remembrance, and his theory of aura and technological reproduction applied to computer-driven animation. The contributors, who are scholars in Europe, North America, and Brazil in a variety of fields, are thorough in their analysis and include discussion of other influential works and thinkers of his time, making this an excellent resource to the philosopher. Camden House is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
An advanced introduction to Benjamin's work and its actualization for our own times.
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) has emerged as one of the leading cultural critics of the twentieth century. His work encompasses aesthetics, metaphysical language and narrative theories, German literary history, philosophies of history, the intersection of Marxism and Messianic thought, urban topography, and the development of photography and film. Benjamin defined the task of the critic as one that blasts endangered moments of the past out of the continuum of history so that they attain new significance. This volume of new essays employs this principle of actualization as its methodological program in offering a new advanced introduction to Benjamin's own work. The essays analyze Benjamin's central texts, themes, terminologies, and genres in their original contexts while simultaneously situating them in new parameters, such as contemporary media, memory culture, constructions of gender, postcoloniality, and theories of urban topographies. The Companion brings together an international group of established and emerging scholars to explicate Benjamin's actuality from a multidisciplinary perspective. Designed for audiences interested in literary criticism, cultural studies, and neighboring disciplines, the volume serves as a stimulus for new debates about Benjamin's intellectual legacy today. Contributors: Dominik Finkelde, Wolfgang Bock, Bernd Witte, Lutz Koepnick, Eric Jarosinski, Karl Ivan Solibakke, Marc de Wilde, Vivian Liska, Willi Bolle, Dianne Chisholm, Adrian Daub. Rolf J. Goebel is Professor of German at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
