'With the sharpened axe of reason' : approaches to Walter Benjamin / edited by Gerhard Fischer.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Fischer, Gerhard, 1945-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Benjamin, Walter, 1892-1940--Criticism and interpretation.

Benjamin, Walter.

Benjamin, Walter, 1892-1940.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

viii, 229 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford, UK ; Washington, D.C. : Berg, 1996.

Summary:

Walter Benjamin holds a unique fascination for students and scholars interested in the question of modernity. The most original thinker of Weimar Germany, Benjamin has become something of a cultural icon and his works are often regarded with awe rather than critical scrutiny. This book offers surprising new insights from a number of perspectives -- sociology, history, women's studies, literary and cultural studies -- and investigates unexplored areas of Benjamin scholarship to arrive at a critically balanced perception of his work. There are four main sections: - a critical re-evaluation of Benjamin's concepts of history and modernity in light of postmodernist discourses; - a discussion of aspects of Benjamin's literary scholarship; - a re-evaluation of Benjamin's writings on media and performance theories; and - an investigation of Benjamin's peculiar 'utopianism' which includes a critical consideration of sexual/gender politics.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1859730442

185973054X

OCLC:

34472812