Walter Benjamin and the past disassociating with present
analytical Essay
2191 words
In Walter Benjamin’s Berlin Childhood Around 1900, he applies a variety of concepts with respect to time: past, present, and future. The concepts are highlighted in his vignettes: “Victory Column”, “The Telephone”, and “Butterfly Hunt”. Benjamin attempts to imbue his writing with a different structure of time from what was conventional. He perceives history as a section of moments, and each moment is an integral whole in its own right, making it equal to the present (Knights). Benjamin also notes that the ignoring of the past and the focus on the progression of the future causes harmful effects to nature (Knights). The concept of technological progress appears to give grounds for the domination and abuse of nature (Patke). Subsequently, Benjamin is arguing that modernization has produced an inauthentic experience of time. He further contends that the redeeming of history is not correlated with a new future. Benjamin's key ideals are regarded to be restorative. This ideology emphases that hope is set in the past and its memory. There is a very traditional aspect to this viewpoint. It considers that the wishes of the former generations must be preferred. Another of Benjamin's concerns is to remove the impression of continuity in history that is attainable if the past and the present are separated. Benjamin searches for the past with the ability to reform in a manner to halt the exchange of present satisfaction for past misery, capable of suspending the reproduction of past tribulation and injustice. Benjamin’s rhetoric in Berlin Childhood around 1900’s vignettes, “Victory Column”, “The Telephone”, and “Butterfly Hunt”, assert that the past contains an immense power of unrealized potentialities, that is unable to associate with the ...
... middle of paper ...
...mes the norm, it will be replacing something from the past that when lost will be irretrievable. Furthermore, being that the future is unknown, Benjamin suggests that this is when there should be a focus on the past to potentially uncover any poor choices to help the future refrain from repeating them. Thus, Benjamin contends that the limitlessness of the past is una ble to conform to the present or uncertainty of a progressive future.
Works Cited
Benjamin, Walter. Berlin Childhood Around 1900. Cambridge: President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2006. Print.
Freud, Sigmund. On Murder, Mourning, and Melancholia. London: Penguin Books, 2005. Print.
Knights, Wayne. Class Lecture. Humanity 360: Great Themes in Humanistic Tradition. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. 22 Feb 2012.
Patke, Rajeev. “Benjamin’s Theses ‘On the Concept of History”
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how benjamin's berlin childhood around 1900 applies a variety of concepts with respect to time: past, present, and future.
- Analyzes how benjamin's vignette, "victory column", is a moment of his past where he perceives himself in utopia like state, before the overbearing present has oppressed him.
- Analyzes how benjamin's "victory column" depicts a utopian world where he is amused and entertained by building blocks and little figures in paste-on picture sheets.
- Analyzes how benjamin's vignette, "the telephone," marginalizes the past to make room for a progressive future.
- Analyzes how benjamin asserts that technology and the future are directly affecting the norms of the past.
- Analyzes how benjamin's "butterfly hunt" is an image of the past that is filled with ambiguity.
- Analyzes how benjamin's description of the hunting ground is peculiar for the aftermath of a child attempting to capture the butterfly.
- Analyzes how benjamin attributes present anxiety into past images, reinforcing the universal application of remembrance of the oppressed.
- Analyzes benjamin's notion of the past as limitless and must be recovered and realized.
- Describes benjamin's berlin childhood around 1900. cambridge: president and fellows of harvard college, 2006.
- Explains knights, wayne, and humanity 360: great themes in humanistic tradition, simon fraser university, burnaby, bc.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- explanatory
- critical analysis of lord of the fliesanalytical essayThroughout the book William Golding makes many excellent uses of symbols and a very large intertwining web of symbols. He created an alternate course to history with a very complex plot describing society and its flaws. He also identified many tenants that define the society that we live in today. My arguement is crucial in better understanding the underlying message and and understanding what the author is trying to convey throughout his book.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how william golding's the lord of the flies is criticized for its heavy use of symbolism.
- Narrates how a group of british schoolboys are shot down over deserted island in the middle of the war. ralph and piggy use the conch shell to summon the other boys to the beach.
- Narrates how jack and ralph clash with the younger boys on a hunt for the beast.
- Analyzes how the title of lord of the flies is symbolic. piggy represents logic and reasoning, while jack represents passion. simon is the embodiment of self-consciousness.
- Analyzes how william golding uses symbols and intertwining symbols throughout his book. he created an alternate course to history with a complex plot describing society and its flaws.
852 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Bishop's In The Waiting Roomanalytical essayWhy should you be one, too? (Bishop, 1979). This is a significant message. Understanding humankind is important for personal and professional growth. Ms. Bishop makes it clear through Elizabeth that we are all a part of humankind but where is our place? As a professional understanding the nuances of what makes people driven to succeed is imperative. Each human is different. It is recognizing those differences that help today’s professional to know where they will “fit” in their career goals. It also allows one to be aware of what it takes to succeed in their respected field. Through an understanding of both humankind and human nature, one is more apt to be
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how bishop's in the waiting room forces the reader to view the world through the eyes of young elizabeth.
- Analyzes how bishop's in the waiting room is a story of self-discovery, and the journey to understand humankind.
- Analyzes how bishop's poem, "told" during the final months of world war i, shows the mournful feelings of the world at that time.
- Analyzes how bishop's work is about reflection, self-discovery, and imagery. in the waiting room, bishop contrasts the cold and hot climates.
- Analyzes how elizabeth bishop traveled the world extensively and lived in many different locations before her death in 1979. a well-respected poet, bishop did not achieve true literary success until her later years.
- Explains that ms. bishop's early years were quite difficult. her mother suffered from serious mental illness, and she went to live with her grandparents in nova scotia, canada.
- Analyzes how bishop's poetry accepts our uncertain relation to other times, places, and things, suggesting we have no "self" otherwise, no home.
- Analyzes bishop's message that understanding humankind is important for personal and professional growth.
- Analyzes how elizabeth bishop, throughout her life, tried to find her place in the world. through these themes, the reader is coaxed into the awareness of the individual’s connection to humankind.
1121 wordsRead More - The American Wars Before and After the Industrial Revolutionanalytical essayThe writer introduces his topic very clearly using different tools. He makes his work simple and easy to understand because he is directing his work to the public. Franklin’s use of organization is intended to make it easy for the reader to progress through time. In addition, he uses an informative tone to inform, not only to persuade, the reader; he wants his audience to draw their own conclusions. Moreover, he uses images to show his audience the affect of photos before and after the Industrial Revolution, and he shows two different images to compare. Franklin shows the wars without makeup as he says, “why not project the war from the point of view of the weapons?” (412).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how franklin's essay, "from realism to virtual reality: images of america’s wars," describes how the wars before and after the industrial revolution look using organization, tone, and images.
- Analyzes how franklin uses organization effectively to guide his audience through different kinds of wars.
- Analyzes how franklin uses tone effectively to inform his audience in such a way that makes it easy for them to understand.
- Analyzes how franklin uses photographic examples to convince his audience, and to show the power of photos.
- Analyzes franklin's use of organization to make it easy for the reader to progress through time. he uses images to show his audience the affect of photos before and after the industrial revolution.
1075 wordsRead More - The Social System of Historyanalytical essayWhat all of this means, is that our history serves us and only us. History is not absolutely and finally true; it can and often does lose meaning over time. A generation f...
In this essay, the author
- Cites the 1938 broadcast of the war of the worlds as proof of general american anxiety about the pending second world war.
- Argues that using theoretical models to connect past events in an effort to make sense out of them, i.e. history, is challenging because we can only look at them from our current reality, not from the shared reality of the people who experienced them.
- Explains that truth is always determined within a thought style. if a and b belong to the same thought collective, the thought will be either true or false for both.
- Opines that our history serves us and only us; it can and often does lose meaning over time. future historians may look back at their ideas about the panic in much the same way as we look at the optimism of the first two-thirds
- Analyzes how the incident at stalybridge wakes in 1850 was recorded by an eyewitness for some little-known memoirs, but has never been judged worthy of mention by any historian.
- Explains how an event occurred and was recorded, a historian offered new historical theory, and the event was cited as proof of the validity. the theory is then subject to peer review.
- Explains that history is a social system, where recorded events and theories are inputs and the historical cannon is the output. the peer review carr describes serves as feedback loop, keeping combinations of theories and events in line with contemporary thought collectives.
836 wordsRead More - Identity in James Baldwin’s Stranger in the Village and Zora Neale Hurston’s How it Feels to be Colored Meanalytical essaystories holds a large impact on how they later develop as individuals. While Baldwin’s piece demonstrates the ignorance from society which is projected onto him from Swiss villagers, it shares both similarities and differences to the attitudes demonstrated in Hurston’s piece influenced by her surroundings. Being that it is difficult to escape the past and the events that have brought strength through triumph, it is important to focus one’s attention on the present and into the future. Although the past determines who an individual is, the future determines who an individual will become.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that it is not easy for an individual to overcome past experiences and refocus his or her attention.
- Opines that zora neale hurston, through their experiences, worked to make it possible.
- Analyzes how the children remain oblivious to the power of their power.
- Analyzes how the past finds its way into her conscious state of mind, leading her into destruction.
- Narrates how they became a color-blind girl in their heart and in the mirror.
- Analyzes how the woman feels herself encountering a reminder of the truth.
- Opines that living in the present with the promise of a future is crucial.
- Opines that a nail bent under the weight of things too heavy for any nail, will be.
- Describes the items that reserve a space on the brown paper bag.
- Analyzes how life with its everlasting fragrance bends under the weight of the nail.
- Opines that there is no weight too heavy to halt one from disposing of.
- Analyzes how the conflicting views in james baldwin's "stranger in the village" and zora neale hurston’s “how it feels to be colored me” impact how they later develop as individuals.
- Analyzes how baldwin is just a black man who was motivated by the need to establish an identity in "stranger in the village".
- Analyzes how baldwin feels superiority over a black man who feels consumed and controlled by culture. baldwin stands with both feet planted firmly on the ground.
- Analyzes how baldwin keeps his goal in perspective by realizing that even though his emotional escape from the past is not easy, it is possible.
- Opines that the little bit of hope that is bestowed in baldwin is often diminished as children guide him.
- Opines that in order to seek change, one must discover the universal truth.
- Opines that even though the hope for change holds importance, it is vital to acknowledge the fact that the world is white.
- Analyzes how baldwin is aware that the past has brought him positive change and is now ready to focus upon what the future has in store for him.
- Analyzes how zora neale hurston's essay, "how it feels to be colored me," states that her skin color and gender are nonexistent.
- Analyzes how zora neale hurston benefits from her act of endurance with both strength and focus as time progresses. marching toward central identity music serves as a reminder to her past.
- Opines that it is up to each individual to take that story and make it their own by creating an identity for him or her.
1733 wordsRead More - Compare Aurora Leigh and Neutral Tonesanalytical essay... recurrence of the next generation revolutionizing the products of the last. The Modernists cast off Victorian pretense and convention for simplicity, realism, unconventionalism. There also appeared to be a sense of innocence and illusion, as revealed in the child-like voice of the narrator of Aurora Leigh. To the destitute and bitter middle-aged narrator of Neutral Tones; which the title too betrays the indifference felt. Nevertheless, the Modern Era can be considered a product of the previous Victorian Age, and a crescendo of its aspirations materialized; and then to a certain degree, the abandonment of it.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how this stanza illustrates the idealistic mood of victorian times, when god and nature were benevolent forces and the sentiment more heartening. even the tragic tales had a sense of completeness,
- Analyzes how the passage reflects the "lost faith in a benevolent god; humans at the mercy of elemental forces of nature: passions, fate's perverse ironies, and indifference."
- Explains longman's anthology of british literature, b. damrosch, d.
- Compares the victorian era's growth and progress with the modernists' use of conversational language and introspection as inspiration.
- Analyzes how the sun cuts through the fog of london and has the connotation of sacrifice to add to the magnitude of the character's epic struggle of her journey to find contentment.
- Analyzes how hardy adheres to an abba rhyme scheme within a quatrain. modernists cast off victorian pretense and convention for simplicity, realism, unconventionalism.
935 wordsRead More - ...yone. The ones who are stuck in the past will eventually not be able to keep up with the altering world and eventually be weeded out, while the ones who do keep up with the times that will continue pushing and striving for the future.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that technology and other media sources have allowed for people to continue this fast-pace lifestyle. the concept of "fast-food" is completely altering how society views dinner time.
- Opines that not everyone thinks that a television show such as the andy griffith show would represent normal.
- Opines that it is good to know your past history, origin, and culture, but you cannot be a root forever.
- Describes how they drove to school and jogged to the building where their class was held. they have noticed the influx of fast-food chains in their area.
- Opines that the andy griffith show was meant to be set in the thirties, but there were no progressions or effects of war on the city.
- Analyzes hensley, dennis, and reischman, sara. "fast food & society."
1163 wordsRead More - Cordeiro, J. (2013, January 6). From Humanism to Transhumanism. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from Transhumanity: http://transhumanity.net/articles/entry/from-humanism-to-transhumanism
In this essay, the author
- Explains that francis fukuyama is an american political scientist, political economist, and author. he believes that transhumanism is one of the most dangerous ideas that we face today.
- Explains that the mormon transhumanist association believes in the idea of a scientific "holy grail" that would transcend one's flaws and become immortal.
- Opines that transhumanistic views are a good thing for people that want to use them within reason and that the catholic church should allow for thinkers with opposing views to think freely without fear of persecution.
- Cites association, m. t., cordeiro, j. and fain, l.
1031 wordsRead More - Hg Wells The Time Machine Analysisanalytical essayIn “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells, the author portrays, for the most part, that the choices humans make now cannot drastically change the outcomes in the far future. The obvious representation of social and political classes, even as the time traveler goes 800,000 years into the future, describes this more. The fact that, even 800,000 years later, there are still apparent classes that can determine an individual’s worth guides the reader towards the conclusion that even if an individual were to change the present, it would be impossible to avoid the very same mistake from being repeated in the future.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how h.g. wells' "the time machine" portrays that the choices humans make now cannot drastically change the outcomes in the far future. the obvious representation of social and political classes, even as the time traveler goes 800,000 years into the future, describes this more.
- Analyzes how social and political classes are overtly exaggerated in "the time machine". the separation of classes is so strong that the upper and lower classes have almost evolved into two different species.
- Explains 's purpose is to bring to light the usefulness of building a time machine, as well as the possible consequences if the wrong decisions are made.
- Analyzes how h.g. wells engages the reader by using dramatic irony to create suspense.
- Concludes that h.g. wells' "the time machine" conveys the theme that the choices humans make now cannot drastically change the outcomes in the far future.
755 wordsRead More - About the The Abrahamic covenantanalytical essayPan, David T. The Human and It's Others, Humanities Core Course Reader. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 1983. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the abrahamic covenant deals with fertility and the significance of symbolic sacrifices during this time period.
- Analyzes how god has questionable motives in the story of abraham and isaac. god was not tempting abraham to do wrong, but was testing to see if he would do what was right.
- Explains that the abrahamic covenant was the first in the biblical scriptures that had any mention of human sacrifice at all.
- Analyzes how the rejection of human sacrifice is supported by the final outcome of the test.
- Analyzes how abraham is not prepared to sacrifice isaac. he challenges god to find his own "lamb" and reassuring his son.
- Explains that the abrahamic covenant focuses on different aspects of relationships and sacrifice. while sacrifice is a common theme within the biblical covenants, it does not have to always be associated with death.
- Explains pan, david t., the human and it's others, humanities core course reader, boston: pearson learning solutions, 1983.
1260 wordsRead More