.
Faschingsgesellschaft
Menschen im Kostüm beim Straßenkarneval
Faschingszeit ! Heimkehr eines lustigen Pierrots mit hübschen Masken vom Maskenball.photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
St. Moritz, Curlingspiel
Das Curlingspiel, ein beliebter Wintersport auf den Eisflächen des Hochgebirges !
Wintersportler beim Curlingspiel, auch Eis-Schlitteln genannt, auf dem Eis in St. Moritz.
photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
Attempt to determine the effect of the work of art once its power of consecration has been eliminated
Parasitic existence of art as based on the sacred
Attempt to determine the effect of the work of art once its power of consecration has been eliminated
Parasitic existence of art as based on the sacred
Berlin, Kinder beim Ballett
Kleine Ballettratten ! Eine reizende Aufnahme angehender Prima Ballerinas in einem Berliner Tanzinstitut.
photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
In its concern with educational value [Lehrwert], "The Author as Producer" disregards consumer value [Konsummerwert]
It is in film that the work of art is most susceptible to becoming worn out
In its concern with educational value [Lehrwert], "The Author as Producer" disregards consumer value [Konsummerwert]
It is in film that the work of art is most susceptible to becoming worn out
Berlin, Sechs-Tage-Rennen, Start
Der Start zum 27. Berliner Sechstagerennen !
Blick in den Sportpalast kurz vor dem Start.
photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
Fashion is an indispensable factor in the acceleration of the process of becoming worn out
The values of distraction should be defined with regard to film, just as the values of catharsis are defined with regard to tragedy
Fashion is an indispensable factor in the acceleration of the process of becoming worn out
The values of distraction should be defined with regard to film, just as the values of catharsis are defined with regard to tragedy
Berlin, Hundeschau
Dame, Kind und Hund, eine Schau der schönsten Luxushunde zugunsten der Winterhilfe im Berliner Zoo ! Preisgekrönte Luxushunde nach der Prämiierung.
photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
Distraction, like catharsis, should be conceived as a physiological phenomenon
Distraction and destruction [word conjectured] as the subjective and objective sides, respectively, of one and the same process
Distraction, like catharsis, should be conceived as a physiological phenomenon
Distraction and destruction [word conjectured] as the subjective and objective sides, respectively, of one and the same process
Miami, Strand-Domino
Der Strand ohne Sorgen !
Amerikanische Girls vergnügen sich am Strande Miamis beim Dominospiel.
photographer unknown, March 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
The relation of distraction to absorption must be examined
The survival of artworks should be represented from the standpoint of their struggle for existence
The relation of distraction to absorption must be examined
The survival of artworks should be represented from the standpoint of their struggle for existence
Leipzig, Frühjahrsmesse, Werbung
Die Eröffnung der Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse !
Trotz schwerer wirtschaftlicher Depression begann die Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse mit einem guten Auftakt für Käufer und Verkäufer aus allen Herren Länder.
China auf der Leipziger Messe. Ein als Chinamann gekleideter macht Propaganda für ein Kinder-Kleinauto in den Strassen Leipzigs.
photographer unknown, March 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
Their true humanity consists in their unlimited adaptability
The criterion for judging the fruitfulness of their effect is the communicability of this effect
Their true humanity consists in their unlimited adaptability
The criterion for judging the fruitfulness of their effect is the communicability of this effect
Leipzig, Frühjahrsmesse, Werbung
Die Eröffnung der Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse !
Trotz schwerer wirtschaftlicher Depression begann die Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse mit einem guten Auftakt für Käufer und Verkäufer aus allen Herren Länder.
Originelle Reklamefiguren im Messezug der Peterstrasse in Leipzig.
photographer unknown, March 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
The educational value and the consumer value of art may converge in certain optimal cases (as in Brecht), but they don't generally coincide
The Greeks had only one form of mechanical reproduction: minting coins
The educational value and the consumer value of art may converge in certain optimal cases (as in Brecht), but they don't generally coincide
The Greeks had only one form of mechanical reproduction: minting coins
Berlin, Rettungswagen der Feuerwehr
Kein Gespensterauto, sondern....?
....ein Schnell-Rettungswagen der Berliner Feuerwehr bei einer Uebung, um Verunglückte aus Rauch-oder Gasgefahr zu retten.
photographer unknown, February 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
They could not reproduce their art works, so these had to be lasting. Hence: eternal art
Just as the art of the Greeks was geared toward lasting, so the art of the present is geared toward becoming worn out
They could not reproduce their art works, so these had to be lasting. Hence: eternal art
Just as the art of the Greeks was geared toward lasting, so the art of the present is geared toward becoming worn out
Berlin-Spandau, 700 Jahrfeier
700 Jahrfeier der Stadt Spandau !
Am 6. März 1932 feierte die Stadt Spandau ihr 700 jähriges Bestehen. Vor dem Rathaus in Spandau fand der Vorbeimarsch der Reichswehr vor den Stadtoberhäupten statt.
Parademarsch der Reichswehr vor dem Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Spandau Dr. Stritte.
photographer unknown, 6 March 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
This may happen in two different ways: through consignment of the art-work to fashion or through the work's refunctioning in politics
Reproducibility -- distraction -- politicization
This may happen in two different ways: through consignment of the art-work to fashion or through the work's refunctioning in politics
Reproducibility -- distraction -- politicization
Shanghai, Drahtsperren um Europäerviertel
"Die Kritische Lage in Changhai !
Drahtverhaue an der Grenze des Europäerviertels in Changhai zur Sicherung gegen Aufstände."
photographer unknown, c. 1932 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Theory of distraction
Educational value and consumer value converge, thus making possible a new kind of learning
Art comes into contact with the commodity; the commodity comes into contact with art
Educational value and consumer value converge, thus making possible a new kind of learning
Art comes into contact with the commodity; the commodity comes into contact with art
Bertolt Brecht: photo by Jörg Kolbe, 1954 (Deutsches Bundesarchiv)
Walter Benjamin (1882-1940): Theory of Distraction, fragment, c. 1935-1936; unpublished in Benjamin's lifetime; translated by Howard Eiland in Walter Benjamin: Selected Writings: Volume 3, 1935-1938 (2002)
5 comments:
Tom,
Just as the art of the Greeks was geared toward lasting, so the art of the present is geared toward becoming worn out
. . . .
Reproducibility -- distraction -- politicization
(more food for thought, thanks. . . .)
It's difficult to know where to start (or end), so I would just like to say that I think this is very fine. The combination of words, images and subtle colors triggers in my mind and imagination a feeling similar to the one I had a long time ago when I first read the notes and saw the images contained in the Green Box. It wrestles (gracefully, honestly and purposively) with basic, important things. I think this particular human animal has been searching for a theory of distraction for some time.
Curtis,
One gets the feeling from these notes that Benjamin, caught up in his admiration for Brecht as the herald ("the optimal case") of a utopian condition of "Author as Producer", fabricating mechanically repoducible works to educate the proletariat, has some difficulty overcoming his own incompletely disguised hesitation about the new dawn even as he salutes it.
Ahead and never to be known to him lay vistas of distraction untold.
"This may happen in two different ways: through consignment of the art-work to fashion or through the work's refunctioning in politics
"Reproducibility -- distraction -- politicization"
Am I wrong to think of Shepard Fairey?
"subston"
Robb, Something tells me that while the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction was Walter Benjamin's brainchild, if he were dropped back aboard the planet tomorrow, he might, once he got over the shock and once his head stopped spinning around in circles like that of Linda Blair in the Exorcist, have wondered whether he had created a monster.
Absolutely, Obey the Giant is infinitely reproducible.
Now even Charles Darwin Has a Posse.
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