Walter Benjamin "Theses on the Philosophy of History"

“The true picture of the past flits by. The past can be seized only as an imagination which flashes up at the instant when it can be recognized and is never seen again. “The truth will not run away from us” “

What the writer is saying here is that the past will always be there but it can only stay relevant if it is recognized, if it is not recognized then it is like it never happened. Holidays such as Christmas and thanksgiving would fail to be relevant if they aren’t celebrated on a yearly basis as they are here in the United States. Just like things can be remembered, they can be forgotten as many people would try to erase bad experiences in life by just never discussing them or acting like they never happened. I chose this quote because I can relate to it; there are some past experiences that I hold dearly with me and celebrate yearly while they are some that I chose to completely ignore.

Walter Benjamin: "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

"Even the most perfect reproduction of a work of art is lacking in one element: its presence in time and space, its unique existence at the place where it happens to be. This unique existence of the work of art determined the history to which it was subject throughout the time of its existence"

What this quote means is that no matter how perfect a reproduction of a work of art it will always just be that; a reproduction and not the real thing. It’s impossible for it to have the “aura” it had when it first happened. I chose this quote because it is the very same reason why I love to attend live sporting events, to capture these memories at its rarest form, to be able to say “I was there when (certain event) happened”.

1.      What is the difference between cult value and exhibition value in art? How does Benjamin see these values in relation to politics?

Cult value refers to its status in magic and rituals; while exhibition value refers to the content or the "information" contained within the piece, literally by showing or exhibiting it.

2. What is the difference between Erfahrung and Erlebnisse? How does it relate to art?

Erfahrung is Integrated experience, it is a fuller and more developed "mode" of experience as its name implies than isolated experience. It occurs by understanding the historical origins of objects that you come into contact with, while Erlebnisse (isolated experience) is the opposite--objects are encountered in isolation and usually seem as hostile.  Erfahrung establishes a continuity or connection between experiences, while Erlebnisse sees no connection between one experience and another.

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

A negative effect of the destruction of the aura in art is that once an art is reproducible it loses its uniqueness and quality, it changes tradition.

While a positive effect of the destruction of the aura in art is that it allows us to approach art in a more realistic way, the destruction of the aura allows people to see "the universal equality of things." Reproduction is then seen as a positive development even though it does create the possibility for art to become a mass produced commodity for the first time and also allows new political forces like fascism to use it as well.

4. How would you judge or evaluate the impact of forms of mass culture like film in contemporary life? Have they changed human perception? Are they are important part of creating political consciousness in the public?

Forms of mass culture like film had a huge impact on contemporary life, mass culture are important agents of socialization, mediators of political reality, and should be seen as major institutions of contemporary societies with a different economic, political, cultural and social effects. I think mass culture has in fact changed human perception. And it is a very important part of creating political consciousness in the public as mass media allows the public to see what is going on.

On Pain

“Only he who feels secure in immediate proximity to death finds himself in the highest state of security”

What Junger is saying here is that the person who comes to accept death and is not afraid of dying has reached the highest point of security one can reach. I choose this quote because it reminds me of my grandfather and his sense of security at the time he passed away. It was like he came to accept that he was going to pass away and he wasn’t afraid.

1.      How would you judge Jünger's thesis that pain is the central experience of life?

I don’t agree with Junger’s thesis that pain is the central experience of life. I think it’s the opposite, joy is the central experience of life and what every person in life looks for but joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain.

2.      What does "post-liberal" refer to and how does it relate to the idea of progress?

Post-liberal refers to the time period after liberalism, it relates to the idea of progress because after this time period “individuals are greeted by a wealth of conveniences, such as the path paved for education and a career choice of preference, the free market of labor, the contractual character of almost all social ties, and the unrestricted freedom of movement.”  

3. Why is photography the "evil eye" according to Jünger?

According to Junger photography is the “evil eye” because it “seems to offer the worker type a means to hunt down the individual as an opponent no longer capable of defending his ways – the private sphere is no match for photography. It is also easier to change one’s attitude than one’s face. The practice of placing photographs of people murdered in political clashes on posters us if immense maliciousness.”

4. What is the relationship between specialized education and the "worker type."

Specialized education is what leads to the “worker type”. People go to school and study one specific type of subject that leads them to master that subject that leads to them getting a job and working in the same field of the subject.

5. How does submission to totalitarian authorities protect an individual from pain?

Submission to totalitarian authorities protects an individual from pain because they come to except what’s going on and stop being against it which would just result in pain and be a struggle.

Politics as a Vocation

“One can say that three pre-eminent qualities are decisive for the politician: passion, a feeling of responsibility, and a sense of proportion.
This means passion in the sense of matter-of-factness, of passionate devotion to a 'cause,' to the god or demon who is its overlord. It is not passion in the sense of that inner bearing which my late friend, Georg Simmel, used to designate as 'sterile excitation,' and which was peculiar especially to a certain type of Russian intellectual (by no means all of them!). It is an excitation that plays so great a part with our intellectuals in this carnival we decorate with the proud name of 'revolution.' It is a 'romanticism of the intellectually interesting,' running into emptiness devoid of all feeling of objective responsibility.
To be sure, mere passion, however genuinely felt, is not enough. It does not make a politician, unless passion as devotion to a 'cause' also makes responsibility to this cause the guiding star of action. And for this, a sense of proportion is needed. This is the decisive psychological quality of the politician: his ability to let realities work upon him with inner concentration and calmness. Hence his distance to things and men. 'Lack of distance' per se is one of the deadly sins of every politician. It is one of those qualities the breeding of which will condemn the progeny of our intellectuals to political incapacity. For the problem is simply how can warm passion and a cool sense of proportion be forged together in one and the same soul? Politics is made with the head, not with other parts of the body or soul. And yet devotion to politics, if it is not to be frivolous intellectual play but rather genuinely human conduct, can be born and nourished from passion alone. However, that firm taming of the soul, which distinguishes the passionate politician and differentiates him from the 'sterilely excited' and mere political dilettante, is possible only through habituation to detachment in every sense of the word. The 'strength' of a political 'personality' means, in the first place, the possession of these qualities of passion, responsibility, and proportion.“


What Weber I saying here is that there is 3 things that make a perfect politician: passion, a sense of responsibility and a sense of proportion. He’s saying that not only do they have to have passion but that passion has to be connected with a sense of responsibility towards the cause but all this has to come together with a sense of proportion. He feels that if politics us to be true and honest it has to come from someone who passionate about it.


I chose this passage because it is one of the reasons why I don’t follow or believe in politics. I agree with Weber that in order for politics to be true it has to come from someone who is passionate about what he’s doing and who really is here to help the cause and do what’s in the best interest of the people and that’s not what happens most of the time. I believe that many of today’s politicians main goal is money, they have their motives that they keep behind closed doors and cover it up with making promises to the people that they know they will not come through with.

HW#6 Luxemburg's Essay

“The madness will cease and the bloody demons of hell will vanish only when workers in Germany and France, England and Russia finally awake from their stupor, extend to each other a brotherly hand, and drown out the bestial chorus of imperialist war-mongers and the shrill cry of capitalist hyenas with labor’s old and mighty battle cry: Proletarians of all lands, unite!”

What Luxemburg is saying here is that the workers in Germany, France and Russia should wake up and unite with one another to put an end to the war. I chose this passage of the essay because she is promoting peace and union and degrading war.

1.      Why does Luxemburg believe the wars of 1871 affect the wars in 1914?

Luxemburg says that two lines of development in history led straight to the 1914 wars. One was the period when the national states/modern states were first constituted, from the time of the Bismarckian war against France. And “The war of 1870, which, by the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, threw the French republic into the arms of Russia, split Europe into two opposing camps and opened up a period of insane competitive armament, first piled up the firebrands for the present world conflagration.”

2. How does Luxemburg judge the claims made about "Russian despotism" supported by the SPD?
Luxemburg says “if Russian despotism, stained with the blood of its own people, should be the victor. This danger must be averted, the civilisation and the independence of our people must be safeguarded. Therefore we will carry out what we have always promised: in the hour of danger we will not desert our fatherland. In this we feel that we stand in harmony with the International, which has always recognised the right of every people to its national independence, as we stand in agreement with the International in emphatically denouncing every war of conquest. Actuated by these motives, we vote in favour of the war credits demanded by the Government.”

3. What is the relationship between nationalism and capitalism?

Nationalism is defined as loyalty to one’s nation, patriotism. While capitalism is defined as an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations. So the relationship between both would be that the loyalty that each has for its respective subject. Nationalism deals with loyalty to ones country to promote patriotism while capitalism deals with loyalty to ones business in order to make a profit.

4. Why does Luxemburg believe that the war supports the business interests of steel and the banks?

Luxemburg believes that the war supports the business interests of steel and the banks because the growth and effect of monopolies in the country. “The monopolies have organized the steel and iron industry, the branch of capitalist endeavor most interested in government orders, in militaristic equipment and in imperialistic undertakings (railroad building, the exploitation of mines, etc.)” In addition Europe had the most concentrated banking system in the world.

HW#5 - M

My favorite part of the film is when the serial killer is captured and seeing him plead for his life. I chose this scene because the serial killer is finally exposed and seeing him pleading for his life just like I’m sure his victims pleaded for theirs is ironic and the most satisfying part of the movie. My least favorite part of the movie is the ending. I don’t like the fact that the movie ends without showing the fate of the serial killer.  

1.       Discuss the evolution of police power as it is depicted in Dr. Caligari and M?

There is a big difference in the evolution of police power from Dr. Caligari to M. This difference is seen in the tactics the police’s used in M to try and capture their killer. The police in M used advanced techniques, such as searching for fingerprints, researching previous crime offenders, and doing raids. The police in M were much more sophisticated compared to the police in Dr. Caligari.

2.       Does the killer deserve to die?

Yes he does. The killings of innocent kids is a crime that always pisses me off. I can’t see how someone can kill an innocent little boy or girl for no reason. The serial killer tries to say that he is crazy and the voices in his head made him do it but that is no excuse in my opinion and it also would give future offenders an excuse to say they are crazy to avoid the death penalty.

3.       How does the criminals ability to organize themselves affect their ability to capture Beckert?

The criminals ability to organize themselves and set up a plan to spread people all around the city and watch over children is an effective plan since the serial killer only kills children. That plan was what made it possible for them to capture him.

4.       How would you judge the depiction of Nazis as criminals?

The Nazis are represented as very smart criminals, responsible for performing an act that usually the police would do. Even though they captured the serial killer and turned him in because his killings were having a negative effect on their business and not because it was the right thing to do.

5.       What is the significance of the media in this film?

The significance of the media in the film is basically the significance of the media in real life; which is exposing the public to what is going on in the world. In this case with M the media was responsible for informing the public to serial killings going on by handing out newspapers in the street, this lead to the public being scared and paranoid to send their children to school. They also published the serial killer’s second letter after the police didn’t bring his first letter to light.