Apparently modernity isn’t all that bad – not all doom and gloom as some would have you believe. Simmel and Benjamin think so anyway. Their approach to sociology is a little different to others. Sure, there are still some Marxist and Weberian notions in their recipe, but they throw in some ideas from intoxicated artists, aesthetics, and find significance in the chaos of modern life. This essay will look at these notions, first by examining the formulation of Simmel and Benjamin’s theories and secondly examining how these differ from other approaches.
TAKE SOME BAUDELAIRE...
Of course we cannot begin a discussion of the work of Simmel and Benjamin without mentioning the influence of the poet Baudelaire, whose observations and writings in the mid-19th century on city life informed both Simmel and Benjamin’s perspectives of the modern condition, and resultingly their sociological approach to its examination. For Baudelaire, life in the metropolises of 19th century Europe – Berlin, Paris, London, etc – was an experience informed by the crowd; the masses that flocked to the cities; that filled the streets and walkways; of multifarious shape, form and grade. While some responded with dismay and disdain to such a mass (Engles and Poe), Baudelaire allows the experience to wash over him, refraining from such a critical perspective but observing with interest and describing within his works the interactions and dances between people. The observer watches the dance of variety; of the many; of the mass – he is the flâneur (Benjamin 1973: 128).
The flâneur is the well-to-do gentleman with time on his hands, who strolls, who wanders casually the streets of the city drawing in the display of the crowd – of variety, juxtaposition, of change....
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...omes one on meaning – something that contrary to some notions can be found by looking at pieces of modernity – through an interpretative perspective. Modernity is thus redeemed – Utopia is still in sight.
Works Cited
Benjamin, Walter, 1973, Charles Baudelaire: A Lyric Poet in the Era of High Capitalism, London, New Left Books, pp. 120-131; 157-158
Buck-Morss, Susan, 1993, ‘Dreamworld of Mass Culture’ in Levin, David (ed), Modernity and the Hegemony of Vision, Berkley, University of California Press
Clark, Nigel, 1999, Lecture Notes: Georg Simmel and Walter Benjamin, University Of Auckland
Craib, Ian, 1997, Classical Social Theory, Oxford, Oxford University Press, Ch. 10 Frisby, David, 1985 ‘Georg Simmel: First Sociologist of Modernity’ in Theory, Culture
and Society, Vol. 2, No. 3 Simmel, Georg, 1950, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, New York, The Free Press, Ch. 4
Conley, Dalton. (2013). You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking like a Sociologist (3rd edition). Columbus, OH: W. W. Norton & Company.
Conley, D. (2008). You may ask yourself: an introduction to thinking like a sociologist. New York, N.Y.: W. W. Norton and Company.
Kendall, D., Linden, R., & Murray, J. L. (2008). Sociology in our times: The essentials (4th Cdn
Kendall, D., Linden, R., & Murray, J. L. (2008). Sociology in our times: the essentials. Toronto,
Throughout history, Georg Simmel and W.E.B. Du Bois have had a substantial influence on imperative theories and concepts developed in the area of social sciences. Two of the most significant and distinguished concepts fostered by both of these theorists are the concepts of “double consciousness” and “the stranger”. In this essay, I will be analyzing each of these works to draw upon differences and similarities concerning the two. The resemblances I will be expanding on are the usage of the paradoxical figure, which both theorists discuss in their theories, and the coexisting sensation of division from conventional society. The contrast between the two theories in which I will be exploring is the perception that conventional society holds on these paradoxical figures. In Simmel works of the stranger, is seen as a beneficial addition to our society. But on the other hand, in Du Bois work of the seventh son is viewed more as a liability on society.
Kendall, Diana. 2012. Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials, Edited by M. Kerr. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Macionis. J, J. Plummer, K. (2005). Sociology. A global Introduction. Pearson Education Limited. Essex. (UK) Third Edition.
In nineteenth-century England, when the Industrial Revolutions and Reform Acts happened, new cultures were formed amongst the working class, and these new cultures include “[...] trade unions, working-class life styles (as incorporated into ‘popular’ journalism, advertising, and commercial entertainment)” (124). In this example of an emergent culture in nineteenth- century England, Williams emphasizes that emergent culture is either an alternative or an opposition to the dominant culture. As Williams’s example, newly formed classes are non-dominant classes, and they create cultures to either substitute or disagree with the dominant culture. However, the dominant culture still exists; thus, “the process of emergence, in such conditions, is then a constantly repeated, an always renewable, move beyond a phase of practical incorporation: usually made much more difficult by the fact that much incorporation looks like recognition, acknowledgement, and thus a form of acceptance” (124-125). Moreover, as we discussed in class, mass culture relies on and absorbs popular culture which is a culture derived from working class. In other words, many of cultures that we consider as mass culture might have been an emergent culture once- that later mass
Berger, Peter L. Invitation to Sociology; a Humanistic Perspective. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1963. Print.
Gustave Flaubert incorporates and composes a realistic piece of literature using realistic literature techniques in his short story, “A Simple Heart.” Flaubert accomplishes this through telling a story that mimics the real life of Félicité, and writing fiction that deliberately cuts across different class hierarchies; through this method, Flaubert
6. Conclusion. Simmel's sociology can be regarded as similar to that of the other classic writers in some senses, although he had less to say about social structure or its dynamics than did Marx, Weber, or Durkheim He did discuss objective culture and his writings on money have some affinity with Weber's rationalization. Where his contribution is notable for contemporary sociology is his view of society, the emphasis on social interaction, and his writings on the city.
...lay in societal change. However it was only until the works of Durkheim and Simmel that the role of individual interaction and society is brought to the forefront. Durkheim largely viewed the individual as needing society as a mechanism of constraint to the aspirations of an eternal goal. Finally, Simmel was able to expand on Durkheim’s dualism by noting that society could be viewed as more than a mechanism of constraint rather as an accumulation of individual interaction. Either through a combination or as individuals each theorist distinct view of the relationship between the individual and society demonstrates a new understanding towards the nature of social reality.
In Peter Berger's "Invitation to Sociology", the sociological perspective was introduced. Berger asserts that it is important to examine new or emotionally or morally challenging situations from a sociological perspective in order to gain a clearer understanding of their true meanings. This perspective requires a person to observe a situation through objective eyes. It is important to "look beyond" the stereotypical establishments of a society and focus on their true, hidden meanings. Consideration of all the hidden meanings of social customs, norms, deviations and taboos, allow one to establish an objective image about the truth behind it. This method can also be applied to understanding people. This questioning, Berger says, is the root influence of social change and personal understanding of others. To do this well, it involves much intellectual prowess and ability to reason.
[10] Kendall, Diana, et al. Sociology in Our Times. ITP Nelson and Co. Toronto, 1997. 126.
Marsh, I and Keating, M., eds. (1996) Sociology: Making sense of society., ed [2006], England: Pearson Education.