Dialectic of Enlightenment:
What is “Enlightenment"?
“Enlightenment, understood in the widest sense as the advance of thought, has always aimed at liberating human beings from fear and installing them as masters.” the aims of enlightenment is to make people not be afraid of doubt, everybody should dispel myths, and overthrow fantasy with knowledge. And the myths which fell victim to the Enlightenment were themselves its products. “it amputates the incommensurable. Not merely are qualities dissolved in thought, but human beings are forced into real conformity.”
What is “Dialectic"?
“a product of dialectical thinking, in which each thing is what it is only by becoming what it is not.”
What is "Nominalism" and why is it an important concept in the text?
“Within the sphere of ideas in which mythical figures executed the unalterable edicts of fate, the distinction between word and object was unknown. The word was thought to have direct power over the thing, expression merged with intention.” They named things to present the power of things, and the hero can break the unchangeable name. This concept Interdependent and interrelated, mutual development and mutual unity are manifestations of the social reality of the relationship.
What is the meaning and function of "myth" in Adorno and Horkheimer's argument?
The myth is enlightenment, myth is people in that century use Abstract name to represent the origin of things, It is the predecessor of the Enlightenment.
The Work of Art in the Age of Technical Reproductivity:
At the beginning of the essay, Benjamin talks about the relation between "superstructure" and "substructure" in the capitalist order of production. What do the concepts "superstructure" and "substructure" mean in this context and what is the point of analyzing cultural production from a Marxist perspective?
At Marxist perspective, at that time the capitalist order of production was in primary stage, and he tried to make his research has predicted value, which makes people realise capitalism increasingly enhanced exploitation of the proletariat, because the superstructure of change is much slower than the base architecture change.
Does culture have revolutionary potentials (according to Benjamin)? If so, describe these potentials. Does Benjamin's perspective differ from the perspective of Adorno & Horkheimer in this regard?
Yes, Benjamin thinks culture has revolutionary potential. At that time, the propaganda of the Nazi regime uses work of art as a propaganda tool, some of the artists work for them. He thinks if we do not use them sparingly, it will lead to processing in accordance with the wishes of the fascist Facts. His concept is different from the perspective of Adorno& Horkheimer, their concept is mass culture regard as a controlling tool for the mass.
Benjamin discusses how people perceive the world through the senses and argues that this perception can be both naturally and historically determined. What does this mean? Give some examples of historically determined perception (from Benjamin's essay and/or other contexts).
This concept emphasises perception and perceived interaction between the two object, even one of the object is a tree or picture, there still could inspire a feeling like emotion exchange. This two object should be absence, face to face. For example, when you watch a painting, you can feel the thinking of the artist from it, even though this painting is from several centuries ago. This is emotion interaction.
What does Benjamin mean by the term "aura"? Are there different kinds of aura in natural objects compared to art objects?
He means the work of art is unique, and should not be copied, the term “aura” is in the original version. The original has its “Echtheit” at that time and place. Natural objects have their different aura since it can not be copied.
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