Benjamin views that the understanding we have for history is not working for us. The iron cage of historicism blinds us to things and forces us to accept things as just the way they happened and the way it was. Throughout this text Benjamin is fighting historicism. He builds a counter practice called historical materialism. Historical materialism is the Marxist understanding of history through materials. This practice relies on the understanding of who did what and who are the people.
There were many connections to concepts from past readings in Benjamin. The one that stood out most to me was the state of exception. "The tradition of the oppressed teaches us that the 'state of emergency' in which we live is not the exception but the rule" (257). Here it states that it is easy for the exception to become the rule. In oppression, the ruler starts out by acting that something needs to be done in a state of emergency, however then never goes back. Benjamin is saying that when this happens "we shall clearly realize that it is our task to bring about a real state of emergency, and this will improve our position in the struggle against Fascism"(257). We need to fight one state of emergency against the other.
I also found it interesting on Benjamin does not look at everything that has happened in history as progressive. "The concept of the historical progress of mankind cannot be sundered from the concept of its progression through a homogenous, empty time" (261). The idea that we are always progressing and so is mankind excuses some actions in the past. Things just happened in history cause it had to in order to progress is a dangerous concept.
What Benjamin wants to done is for people to look at history as historical materialism. "Universal history has no theoretical armature. Its method is additive; it musters a mass of data to fill that homogenous, empty time. Materialistic historiography, on the other hand, is based on a constructive principle" (162). We must look at more than the facts of what happened and look at the people and who they were. We also as I previously stated must challenge the state of emergency and not let it become the norm. Through historical materialism it acknowledges who the people are and who did what. It is more than just looking at the facts.
Benjamin put a little bit of my family past in perspective. "This training made the working class forget both its hatred and its spirit of sacrifice, for both are nourished by the image of enslaved ancestors rather than that of liberated grandchildren" (260). Where you come from helps shape who you are. My life experiences have made me who I am. This passage reminded me a lot about the relationship with my father. It is important that as I am growing in my future that I do not forget my past, yet I also do not hold onto it too strongly. My father was unable to support his family and has suffered anger issues. He was not able to give me a home as he was forced to move in with his mom in Arizona when I was a teenager. I have learned a lot about how not to be from him. Growing up with him as my father made me a stronger person. Seeing him fail has pushed in the mind set that I must succeed and failing is not an option. My past has given me a lot of knowledge and strength. If I broke off from the past I would not be as driven as I am. However, it is unhealthy to dwell on the past, so you must find a balance of the things you learn from and the things you let go to move on.
No comments:
Post a Comment