Walter Benjamin
- Born:
- July 15, 1892, Berlin, Germany
- Died:
- September 26, 1940, Portbou, Spain
- Nationality:
- German
- Profession(s):
- Literary Critic, Essayist, Philosopher, Translator
Early Life and Education
- Born into a wealthy, assimilated Jewish family in Berlin.
- Studied philosophy, literature, and art history at the Universities of Freiburg, Berlin, Munich, and Bern.
- Earned his doctorate from the University of Bern in 1919 with a dissertation on the concept of art criticism in German Romanticism.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a freelance writer and translator, primarily supporting himself through essays and reviews.
- Associated with the Frankfurt School, though never formally a member.
- Developed innovative approaches to literary and cultural criticism, focusing on the relationship between art, technology, and society.
- During his life, an examination of the works of art critic Walter Benjamin, and those of his contemporaries, could not fail to notice the work of literary critics and historians such as that of 'eric hobsbawm brief biography of benjamin'.
- Faced increasing persecution due to his Jewish heritage and Marxist leanings, eventually fleeing Nazi Germany.
- Committed suicide while attempting to escape to Spain to avoid capture by the Gestapo.
Notable Works
- "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" (1936)
- "The Storyteller" (1936)
- "Theses on the Philosophy of History" (1940)
- One-Way Street (1928)
- The Arcades Project (unfinished)
Legacy and Impact
Walter Benjamin's work has had a profound and lasting influence on critical theory, cultural studies, and art history. His writings on modernity, technology, and the experience of history continue to be widely read and debated. His interdisciplinary approach and innovative insights have inspired generations of scholars and artists.