Book Description
Walter Benjamin's magnum opus was a book he did not live to write. In The Dialectics of Seeing, Susan Buck-Morss offers an inventive reconstruction of the Passagen-Werk, or Arcades Project, as it might have taken form.
Susan Buck-Morss is Professor of Political Philosophy and Social Theory at Cornell University.
Customer Reviews:
Philosophik Genius........2000-05-08
"The Dialectics of Seeing" is an absolutely *superb* book -- possibly the best book on philosophy I have ever read. Not yet having read the Harvard U Press edition of the Arcades Project, I don't really have any basis for comparing the two works, but it seems to me that Buck-Morss' astonishing (incandescent) use of self-deconstructive and poetic literary techniques in this tour de force of an "invention" of the Arcades Project entitles it to rank as at least as dazzling and eye-opening (deep assumption-challenging) as anything else Benjamin himself wrote. Sources aren't important; spelling isn't important; pedantry is misleading as a criterion of value. All that matters is that the experience of reading the book be a dialectical one -- and the experience of reading *this* book *is*. An absolutely incomparable work.
Wonderful.......1999-12-11
I have to agree with the reader from Los Angeles, and the review of November 28, 1999. This book is a lot of fun! Yes, a peculiar judgement, I know.
I'm not usually a reader of literary scholarship and excavation. (Hey, I'm in the Army and very busy and I don't have much time to read). But there is something about this book which is fascinating and very intriguing.
Now that "The Arcades Project," Harvard Belknap Press: 1999, has just been published I have been trying to resist buying this rather expensive work. But I must say that because of this book I'm "reviewing" here by Susan Buck-Morss , I'm going to have to succumb and buy it soon.
Ok, this is not a fancy or insightful examination of the "why's" and "wherefore's" on my part. But I encourage any and all readers to trust their guts on this...what at first seem opaque and in-accessible, gradually unveils something crucial about Benjamin's project for ourselves and our cultural, our History.
I'm thinking now of what it would be like to find out that we have been missing something all along. I mean our Western Culture and its great wonders. Perhaps missing something crucial about ourselves.
Maybe this is one way to think of it, reader: and ask yourself this question perhaps. What if what has been shown to us as our history or culture, something we both admire and love, but are at times horrified by could be like a movie that holds us in its grip.
But imagine this movie has been worked on over many years, and various editors and directors have changed hands in the creation of the final, definitive print which will be shown to the rest of us.
Now, imagine that each director, based on his/her own sense of things, decided what part of the original film he might keep and which parts he'd destroy.
But some of the editors hated to let all the spliced out frames be destroyed. And put some of them away in a drawer let's say.
Its kind of like Benjamin was searching the arcades, the hidden passage-ways between buildings and looking in the drawers for the missing frames and was then trying to figure out where to splice the frames back into the original.
Now, would the reconstructed film of ourselves, our History and Culture make sense to us? If the original sequence is still inexplicable to us,or long forgotten, then what else is too late for us...amidst this century's human rubble? Maybe this is one thing to value about Susan Buck-Morss' book. Any reader, knowledgeable or not about this century's intellectual landscape, knows that there is something missing in this story about ourselves. Something more intolerable and heartbreaking than a few missing frames from a 2 hour movie. There has been a terrible human cost. We know that not all of the story has been shown. It will be terrible to forget that we have forgotten. Thus, Benjamin was trying to un-cover something we have all lost. This seems astounding in some way.
I disagree.......1999-11-29
Buck-Morss is very likely the most insightful and best informed scholar writing on Benjamin (or Adorno) in English today. If there are typos, misspellings, etc., they are more a sign of the declining standards in editing, even at university presses, than any reflection on Buck-Morss' scholarship. She knows the primary and secondary literature and has clearly spent much time with Benjamin's papers and in various archives. Morevoer, having written the best book I know on the philosophical relationship between Adorno and Benjamin, she is clearly well placed to provide insightful analysis the latter's unfinished masterwork. Since the Passagen-Werk is recently available in English ("The Arcades Project," Harvard Belknap Press: 1999), one can judge for oneself the worth of Buck-Morss' reading.
salon scholarship, deeply flawed first summarization.......1999-05-17
The deeper flaws in this synoptic summary are suggested by the profusion of factual errors: even names are misspelled, confirming the author's overreliance on the assertions of secondary literature without more than a superficial understanding of the discursive context in which Benjamin's unfinished magnum opus was prepared. Thus the flood of footnotes, over 100 pages of annotation documenting a disappointing hesitance to form opinions based upon original research. Fortunately, Benjamin's Paris "Arcades Project" will be appearing imminently in English translation; unfortunately all the serious scholarship or reflections on this work only exists in German or French.
Amazon.com
You could spend years trying to read Walter Benjamin's The Arcades Project--after all, he spent much of the last 13 years of his life doing the research. When he committed suicide in 1940, he destroyed his copy of the manuscript, and so for decades the work was believed lost. But another copy turned up, and Howard Eiland and Kevin McLaughlin have translated it into English. It is a complex, fragmentary work--more a series of notes for a book than a book itself--which probes the culture of the Paris arcades (a cross between covered streets and shopping malls) of the mid-19th century and the flaneur ("the man who walks long and aimlessly through the streets" in an "anamnestic intoxication [that] ... feeds on the sensory data taking shape before his eyes but often possesses itself of abstract knowledge--indeed, of dead facts--as something experienced and lived through"). The Arcades Project is, frankly, so dense a work that one hardly has enough time to glimpse fleetingly at its sections--over 100 pages of notes on Baudelaire alone!--before mentioning it to you, though one certainly looks forward to the opportunity to peruse it at leisure.
Book Description
"To great writers," Walter Benjamin once wrote, "finished works weigh lighter than those fragments on which they labor their entire lives." Conceived in Paris in 1927 and still in progress when Benjamin fled the Occupation in 1940, The Arcades Project (in German, Das Passagen-Werk) is a monumental ruin, meticulously constructed over the course of thirteen years--"the theater," as Benjamin called it, "of all my struggles and all my ideas."
Focusing on the arcades of nineteenth-century Paris-glass-roofed rows of shops that were early centers of consumerism--Benjamin presents a montage of quotations from, and reflections on, hundreds of published sources, arranging them in thirty-six categories with descriptive rubrics such as "Fashion," "Boredom," "Dream City," "Photography," "Catacombs," "Advertising," "Prostitution," "Baudelaire," and "Theory of Progress." His central preoccupation is what he calls the commodification of things--a process in which he locates the decisive shift to the modern age.
The Arcades Project is Benjamin's effort to represent and to critique the bourgeois experience of nineteenth-century history, and, in so doing, to liberate the suppressed "true history" that underlay the ideological mask. In the bustling, cluttered arcades, street and interior merge and historical time is broken up into kaleidoscopic distractions and displays of ephemera. Here, at a distance from what is normally meant by "progress," Benjamin finds the lost time(s) embedded in the spaces of things.
Customer Reviews:
Das Passagen-Werk (Spanish).......2005-05-01
"La huella es la manifestación de una cercanía, por lejos que esté lo que abandona. El aura es la manifestación de una lejanía, por cerca que esté lo que la motiva. En la huella nos apoderamos de la cosa; en el aura ella nos domina." Esta sentencia de Walter Benjamin en LA OBRA DE LOS PASAJES/THE ARCADES PROJECT hace pensar en el proceso acelerado conque la industria a partir del siglo XIX instaura una época caracterizada por la manifestación de esta cercanía debido al consumo y a la accesibilidad masiva de los objetos considerados antes lejanos como el arte culto, por ejemplo. El Passagen-Werk está dedicado a hacer una arqueología de la cultura moderna a través de un diagnóstico sobre la historia y conseguir ver la actualidad del siglo XIX hoy y Benjamin encuentra el origen de la cultura de masas contemporánea en el París del siglo XIX. Así, en el siglo pasado se consiguió, de manera creciente, la destrucción de las relaciones simbolicas y la progresiva desmitifcacion de lo antes considerado sacro mediante la producción creciente de mercancías para el consumo inmediato como la masificación del arte; pero, también, en el siglo pasado, se restableció también nuevas relaciones míticas en el ensueño colectivo de la sociedad de consumo: la glorificación de la industria en las Exposiciones Universales, en los Pasajes, la concepción populista de la política, la exhibición del progreso nacional y la novedad mercantil. Lo simbólico se transformó en fetiche porque cuando antes la legitimidad provenía de la naturaleza tanto en el arte como en las relaciones sociales, es decir, la tradición que progresivamente transforma las convenciones en órdenes naturales; en la industria, la legitimidad proviene precisamente de la idea del progreso, la transformación de la vieja naturaleza mediante la técnica y su consecuente vencimiento para la comodidad de los hombres. Sin embargo, la sacralziacion de la experiencia industrial que se consigue con el consumo mercantil y con la concepción positivista e historicista del progreso informará tanto la ideología de masas como la filosofía culta: el positivismo de Comte y el historicismo de Hegel. La idea de la evolución social, en efecto, glorificaba el curso empírico de la historia humana y daba, en el siglo XIX, justificación filosófica al ordo capitalista. Tomando de Darwin, los filósofos de la época transformaban su teoría de la selección natural en dogma social por el cual, la competencia, en este caso, de clases, era, por supuesto, un hecho natural. Este ejemplo ideológico es excelente para demostrar la reauratización de la vida social. La naturaleza, negada y vencida en la industria, vuelve como referente de legitimación. Sin embargo, bajo el progreso aparente, se esconde la barbarie más profunda, puesto que un estado prehistórico de salvajismo se transcribe en el medio económico de la competencia. La huella trata de encontrar los orígenes históricos del presente; el aura, al contrario, trata de instaurar una naturalización del presente; así como aquella trata de volver cercano el objeto que va desapareciendo en la historia pero para mirarlo con otros ojos, ésta última intenta volver lo presente, lejano, inaccesible, investido con el aura del fetiche mágico. La huella intenta historizar la naturaleza, el aura, naturalizar la historia. Esta dialéctica aplicada a la mercancía se formularía así: en el aura, la mercancía se entiende como alma, fetiche; en la huella, como proceso industrial por el cual los consumidores se identifican entre ellos. La huella no es solamente polemizar contra la barbarie sino demostrar que, aún más, la nueva naturaleza es más transitoria que la anterior. En la huella la discontinuidad del tiempo histórico es afirmada en el sentido que ésta trata de actualizar un objeto que está siendo consumido por la tradición histórica para revelar lo actual que éste posee y, de esta manera, demostrar que la originariedad de los fenómenos modernos residen ya en los objetos despassés. Esta busqueda por las huellas ideologicas de la sociedad industrial avanzada es el objetivo central de Walter Benjamin en esta obra monumental.
The Capitalist-Fascist Dreamscape, Interpreted.......2004-11-30
As the U.S. begins more and more to embrace a cultural, if not yet explicitly political fascism, it's particularly important to look at the response earlier generations made to fascism. Walter Benjamin is a good place for us to start now, and not just because of his fascinating life and tragic death (read about it in the apparatus to The Arcades Project). Benjamin is at his best in examining the allegoric and metaphoric qualities of commercial objects and trends. He tries to understand what products and displays mean. We now live in a culture of declaration rather than fact (WMD in Iraq, the morality of torture, the chorus of creationists on the school board...); even our public discourse works like declarative advertising copy, like propaganda.
Walter Benjamin's interpretation of 19th century Parisian commerce gives us some tools with which to crack the contemporary code.
Stylistically, The Arcades Project works brilliantly. The layering of quotations and themes evokes a dream world, which is part of Benjamin's point: capitalism lulls whole social bodies to sleep, like a narcotic, like an addiction, and provides a phantasmagoria complete enough to keep consensus reality in place. Benjamin's prose sparkles; ideas pop from the page. More good news: you can effectively read around in The Arcades Project; you don't have to read through it cover-to-cover to get the point.
Finally, if you want to understand the impulses of those who are actively transforming the beautiful United States into styrofoam Walmartistan, I humbly suggest that the reader seek out Deleuze and Guattari's study Anti-Oedipus, which examines in detail the ways in which one can desire fascism (and desire in a fascist manner).
Fragmentary Epic.......2000-06-15
In the fifth of his "Theses on History" Benjamin mentions that "every image of the past that is not recognized by the present as one of its own concerns threatens to disapear irretrievably." This work represents a significant way of not forgetting. It is fragmentary...but it reminds us that the texts we read are all fragmentary, and we assemble and contextualize them as we read them.
Humbug.......2000-02-20
This book is a nihilistic, incoherent work, and I dare anyone who reads this review to argue to the contrary. Admiration for this book is humbuggery in action. The emperor has no clothes.
NY Times Review.......2000-01-22
Herbert Muschamp, the NY Times architectural critic, has written an interesting article about Benjamin and his Paris project which appears in the Arts & Leisure section on January 16, 2000. While not strictly speaking a book review it nevertheless offers some observations as to the cultural importance of Benjamin's chef d'oevre. Another book on the Arcades Project is Susan Buck-Morss's 'The Dialectics of Seeing' (MIT 1989, 1991, 1997).
Book Description
You can go back, and here's howRemember the days—and quarters—you spent pursuing aliens, fleeing ghosts, and gobbling dots in that beloved arcade? They’re hiding in these pages, along with diagrams, directions, plans, and materials lists that will enable you to build your very own arcade game. Construct joysticks, buttons, and trackballs; build the console and cabinet; install and configure the software; crank up the speakers; and wham! Step across the time-space continuum and enjoy all those classic games, plus dozens of new ones, whenever you like.
Start Here
1. Plan for your space and budget
2. Design and build the cabinet
3. Construct the controllers
4. Build the console
5. Pick an old game’s brain
6. Install the emulator
7. Convince a PC it’s a game
8. Connect a monitor and speakers
9. Add a marquee
10. GO PLAY!
Includes diagrams, detailed instructions, essential software, and more
CD-ROM Includes
- Complete cabinet plans and diagrams
- MAME32 software
- Paint Shop Pro® evaluation version
- Links to hundreds of arcade cabinet projects
Customer Reviews:
A invaluable reference for your Arcade Project.......2007-07-16
I was tossing around the idea of building a Home stand-up Arcade unit but never found the right reference material to get me started. When I saw the review of this book I thought to myself, "Why not give it a try, it can't hurt!" Oh man was this was the best choice to make!
Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine by John St. Clair is a great book!
I love this book!
It was full of detailed information on everything about arcades! Controllers, arcade construction, monitors or TV or CRT that are just for Arcades, Arcade applications and software, such as MAME and jukebox.
It had web addresses to search for arcade parts and manufacturers.
The section on hooking things up was probably the most valuable part of the book. Without this information I would have been lost and trying to connect all the buttons, controllers, spinner, and trackball would have been near impossible! It took the fear and uncertainty out of the entire process!
You don't even have to follow the book to the letter; you can make modifications or take bits and pieces and use what you need!
Ii provided all the necessary up-front information I needed to get started with my Arcade Project. I know that I wanted to make a MAME Arcade console and I wanted it to be a stand-up! This was perfect because the book walks you through the building of a stand-up arcade unit!
I have to admit that I did make some structural enhancements to my arcade unit but that was it. I used the book to get ideas on the controls... such as joysticks, trackballs, buttons, and interfaces for all the controls.
This book truly is incredible! I want to personally thank the author for writing this book because without it I would not have finished the beautiful Stand-up Home Arcade Unit I have in my house right now.
Thank you so much!
If you want to build your own Arcade Unit then buy this book! Go right now and pick it up! Stop reading and go already....
NOW!
A very, very thorough product.......2007-07-03
It covers everything you need to do, from start to finish. I especially like the in-depth reviews of the different controllers and how to tweak or hack them. Very informative. I think the highest praise I can give this book is that I was very motivated to build a machine until I read this book. This book very clearly and explicitly laid out what I would be doing, and it convinced me that I did not really want to undertake this project. It sounds like backwards compliments, but seriously, what could be more valuable than convincing the reader that they are out of their depth PRIOR to spending the money on the materials, the computers, the controllers etc.
Great.......2007-05-29
Very informative. A must read for anyone interested in building their own arcade machine or controls.
The most detailed "how-to" I've ever purchased.......2007-01-11
Many people will tell you that all the info in this book is readily available online...and it is. However, it is no where near as in-depth as the content in this book is. It tell you EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know about how to build your own arcade. I've taken the plans from the book, and made a few modifications myself, but do you really want to be running back and forth to your computer to look up some info in the middle of building? No! Instead buy this book. You'll have it handy, and it provides so many more tips than any online guide does. Plus, the high-res detailed plans that come on the CD were great. I printed them out, and the 1" grids made it super-easy for me to make the cuts and draw in my own modifications. My cabinets almost done, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in making their own.
Excellent Guide on Building an Arcade.......2007-01-10
I have used this book to build 4 arcades. It's step by step process is great for someone (like me) who wasn't strong on woodworking or electrical.
Average customer rating:
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Benjamin Now: Critical Encounters with The Arcades Project (Boundary)
Kevin McLaughlin
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0822365782 |
Book Description
The Arcades Project is the unfinished, final work of influential cultural theorist, critic, and historian Walter Benjamin. Until 1999, this huge, unruly manuscript, which provides a more complete picture of the diversity of Benjamin’s work than formerly available, had not been fully translated into English. Benjamin Now is the first collection of essays in English to focus on The Arcades Project.
While this essential text’s title refers to its ostensible subjectâthe nineteenth-century shopping arcades of ParisâThe Arcades Project is a mass of cultural, political, and social material presented in the form of a vast montage. Benjamin Now reconsiders the significance of his theories and writings in light of this final project. The contributors gathered in this special issueâseveral of whom participated in the translation of The Arcades Projectâinclude leading scholars from modern culture and media studies, comparative literature and literary studies, art history, philosophy, cultural studies, and film studies.
Contributors. T. J. Clark, Howard Eiland, Peter Fenves, Tom Gunning, Michael Jennings, Claudia Brodsky Lacour, Kevin McLaughlin, Philip Rosen, Henry Sussman, Lindsay Waters, Samuel Weber, Peter Wollen
Average customer rating:
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Libro de los pasajes/ The Arcades Project (Via Lactea/ Milky Way)
Walter Benjamin
Manufacturer: Akal Ediciones
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ASIN: 8446019019 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Review of Contemporary Fiction, published by Review of Contemporary Fiction on June 22, 2000. The length of the article is 959 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The Arcades Project.(Review) (book review)
Author: Jeffrey DeShell
Publication:
The Review of Contemporary Fiction (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2000
Publisher: Review of Contemporary Fiction
Volume: 20
Issue: 2
Page: 187
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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