Walter Benjamin’s "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

Shameka Clark

LEH 300

Walter Benjamin’s "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

 ( I will be discussion the Fourth Thesis)

 

 

“The fourth thesis suggests some of the the things which may be lost: courage, humor, cunning, and fortitude i.e. the qualities displayed by the oppressed classes in their struggle against oppression. These qualities develop under conditions of adversity and is important not to lose sight of how they important they are or forget the people who have shown them.”

-          What I believe Walter Benjamin is saying in this thesis is when one goes through hard times in life; one may lost their character traits that makes them human in their times of struggles. But if one can over comes the many hardships of life and remember not lose sight of who they are and the importance of the people in their life; and manage their character traits (courage, humor, cunning, and fortitude). Than one will remain human and regain hope against oppression.

 

 

1)      How do history and nihilism relate? How do people use history as a way to overcome nihilism?

 

-History and nihilism relates because both have deal with pain, tension, disloyalty, destroying others in order to move up in society and to show growth over the years. People use history to overcome nihilism, because history has showed us that with the will to want change from pain and destroying; we as a people can gain power and fight over oppression and overcome many struggles.

 

Benjamin

Shameka Clark

LEH 300

 

 

            “Even if one has a general knowledge of the way people walk, one knows nothing of a person's posture during the fractional second of a stride. The act of reaching for a lighter or a spoon is a familiar routine, yet we hardly know what really goes on between hand and metal, not to mention how this fluctuates with our moods. Here the camera intervenes with the resources of its lowerings and liftings, its interruptions and isolations, its extensions and accelerations, its enlargements and reductions. The camera introduces us to unconscious optics as does psychoanalysis to unconscious impulses (p. 237).”

 

-What I believe this quote is saying is that when a picture or a movie is taking place, the camera only shows what is happing. The camera does not show or explained how these actions are happening or how the person feels during these actions.

 

Please also complete the following questions:

1.      Why does Benjamin argue for the similar effects of Dadaism and Chaplin films?

Benjamin argues for similar effects because pain is an emotion everyone has or will experience in their life and it give them the ability to relate to his work.

2.      Explain some of the positive and negative effects of the destruction of the "aura" in art.

The negative effects are, it gives the artists less freedom to express their self and the positive effects is it more acceptable in society.  

3.      How would you judge or evaluate the impact of mass culture in contemporary life today?

Mass culture in contemporary life today I believe is more worry  about what others think compare to the times of Benjamin were people were will to risk their life just so their voice would be heard.

Ernst Jünger and "pain"

Shameka Clark

LEH 300

 

            The passage I will be discussing today is the following:

-“Pain’s disregard for our system of values greatly increases its hold on life...Our children’s tales close with passages about heroes who, after having overcome many dangers, live out their lives in peace and happiness. We hear such assurances with pleasure, for it is comforting for us to learn about a place removed from pain. Yet, in truth, life is without any such satisfying end... (p.4).”

--What I believe this quote is saying that society shows us through media and lectures that in life there is always a happy ending; even to those who had hardship. But in real life; this is not the truth. For some there will not be a happy ending; just pain. I choose this passage because to me it’s the truth. Many people will never get the change to live without pain; to live with happiness and peace. There are many people who don’t know what it feels like to live without the dangers of others or their environment.

 

***Please also answer the following questions.

 

 

1. Is pain the most important experience in life?  I’m not sure if it the most important, but I do believe it’s the most strongest of experiences we have in life and the one when can learn from the best.

2. What does "post-liberal" mean? I believe "post-liberal" means that we as humans are entering another phase in our lives and that is leaving “liberalism”.

3. How does obedience to the state protect the person from pain? Obedience to the state can protect a person from pain by helping them fit the norm of that place or time. With fitting the norm one fits in and this stop others from picking or looking at them. When this happens it makes people feel that they are all the same and should be treated the same. This is a form of protect because the person is less likely to harm them.