Brain Pain discussion

This discussion covers the Exposés of 1935 and 1939, p. 3 – 26


“The subject of this book is an illusion expressed by Schopenhauer in the following formula: to seize the essence of history, it suffices to compare Herodotus and the morning newspaper.” (p.14)

In these two “Exposés”, Benjamin gives us the broad strokes of his project. Although similar in content, the Exposé of 1939 is a bit meatier and includes both an introduction and conclusion.

It quickly becomes apparent that a familiarity with basic Marxist ideas will be helpful in unwrapping The Arcades Project. Also, Fourier and Baudelaire are given much attention, as is Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). The Arcades Project is obviously going to take us across vast territories of history, philosophy, and economics. Fasten your seatbelts!

I understand the need for a grasp on Marx and Baudelaire, but isn't it a little too ambitious to throw entire works of them in the weekly schedule? Maybe someone can work out (google) a sketch of main ideas, or we can even comment their Wikipedia entries and share excerpts of their works

Mertin wrote: "I understand the need for a grasp on Marx and Baudelaire, but isn't it a little too ambitious to throw entire works of them in the weekly schedule? Maybe someone can work out (google) a sketch of m..."

What?!??! We can't cover Marx in a week? (LOL!)

The idea within the main Arcades Project schedule is to discuss some of the ideas/books which Benjamin was interested in while preparing his manuscript. If you see The Communist Manifesto listed for one week, all it means is that's the week where we begin a conversation about Marx/Engels and their relationship to Benjamin's thesis. The date only marks the beginning of the discussion, which can last as long as people are willing to discuss. Also, I set up a separate folder with individual discussions for each of these books. Within those discussions, which have no specific schedule, Marx, Baudelaire, Sontag, etc., can be discussed at length, and in those discussions, you can add links, excerpts, and of course, your own comments. Since they have no set schedule, you can start discussing them today!

This is the folder:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

This Works really does encompass quite a large scope of topics and I found reading these exposes as a little daunting. As someone who has very little background in any of the satellite resources/works covered it has taken me some time sifting through and some quick googling the sociological lingo amongst other things and getting used to his writing style.

I did much prefer the, IMO, more structured exposé from 1939. It felt like the ideas were a little more transparent and flowed a little more smoothly.

I recently watched a documentary about Paris pre and post revolution and how the layout of the city was quite an issue before Haussmann and Napoleon III (I think) reconfigured the city to the Paris we know today. Really has helped to give me more of an insight into the mind of the mid 19th century Parisian. Was really focused on 18th century mainly but was very helpful nonetheless.

This idea of the sort of beginning of the mass expression of the individual within ones 'interior' and technological advances aiding this really mirrors what is currently happening with ourselves currently in the age of the Internet. Hope I'm not way off the mark there haha....

Really wish I pre-read the origins of space book prior ( will start soon though).

Great read looking forward to other people's thoughts as we go.

I just read the 1935 exposé and even in its outline-y form I found it surprisingly interesting. I knew next to nothing about the book and I'm wondering why Walter Benjamin picked Paris for his project but I'm now looking forward to reading further and exploring all the points and names he mentioned...

I like his vue d'ensemble (overall look?) at the development of history, economics, politics, urbanism and art (did I miss one aspect? probably) over the Industrial Revolution and into the beginning of the twentieth century... all of it through the lens of the thoroughfare in the Parisian passages (of time, people, etc). Very promising.

Being already familiar with Paris, Baudelaire and Haussmann helps but personally I'm going to need to read up on Fourier and Grandville and definitely refresh my history of nineteenth-century France. Thankfully the internet was invented and we can praise the Wiki Gods of Knowledge:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_...

Travis wrote: "I recently watched a documentary about Paris pre and post revolution and how the layout of the city was quite an issue before Haussmann and Napoleon III..."

Sounds very interesting! I think I'll go see what's on YouTube. :)

Book Portrait wrote: "I kept wondering what "panoramas" were. Here's what I found:

The word "panorama", from Greek pan ("all") horama ("view") was coined by the Irish painter Robert Barker in 1792 to describe his paint..."

I'd like to politely ask you to repost these links and photos over in the topic called "Questions, Resources, and General Banter". Whenever possible, I like to keep the weekly discussion threads focused on the text being discussed, and the resources (photos and such) as well as auxiliary info over in the other thread, as a kind of general catch-all for these resources. A quick cut-n-paste ought to do it.

Merci beaucoup!!

Jim wrote: "I'd like to politely ask you to repost these links and photos over in the topic called "Questions, Resources, and General Banter"...

C'est fait! Désolée. :)