THE FUTURE BETWEEN CATASTROPHE AND PROGRESS IN WALTER BENJAMIN

Authors

  • Deborah Spiga Unifesp

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7443/problemata.v12i1.55777

Keywords:

Future, Progress, Past, Marxism

Abstract

In this article, we will make incursions into Walter Benjamin's more political texts, seeking to analyze the relationship between the past and the future and how the appreciation of the latter, from an Enlightenment inspiration, ended up resulting for Benjamin in an unstoppable myth of progress and infinite perfectibility human. We will show, as according to our author, this “progressive” idea ended up seducing everyone, from right to left, with “catastrophic” implications for the oppressed class. From an analysis of the "Angel of history" of the Theses, we will outline Benjamin's "unofficial Marxism" not only emphasizing his strong Jewish matrix, but also through his relationship with Asja Lacis and Bertold Brecht, his attack on social German democracy and its recourse to the utopian socialism of Auguste Blanqui.

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References

REFERÊNCIAS:

BENJAMIN, W. Angelus Novus. Torino: Einaudi, 1962.
______. Sul concetto di storia, Torino: Einaudi, 1997.
______. Diario moscovita, Torino: Einaudi, 1983.
BONOLA, G. «La porta di ogni istante», in L'ospite ingrato, Macerata: Quodlibet, 2013.
DESIDERI, F. Benjamin, Roma: Carocci editori, 2010.
LÖWY, M. Segnalatore d'incedio. Una lettura delle tesi sul concetto di storia di Walter Benjamin, Torino: Bollati Boringhieri, 2004.
ROSENZWEIG, F. La stella della redenzione. Milano: Vita e Pensiero, 2008.
SCHOLEM, G. Walter Benjamin. Storia di un'amicizia, Milano: Adelphi, 1992
______, G. Walter Benjamin e il suo angelo, Adelphi, Milano 2007.
WITTE, B. Walter Benjamin. Introduzione alla vita e alle opere, Lucarini: Roma 1991.

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Published

2021-08-17

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Deborah Spiga

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