Walter Benjamin's Sense of History : His Eyes on "the Orient"

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Other Title
  • ベンヤミンの歴史感覚 : 〈東方〉へのまなざし
  • ベンヤミン ノ レキシ カンカク トウホウ エノ マナザシ

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Abstract

Oriental descriptions can be found throughout Walter Benjamin's works: descriptions such as of the game of go, oriental pottery, pictures and calligraphy. Those descriptions seem to be the so called "Orientalism" from the westerners' eyes. For Benjamin, however, those objects were not treated as exotic ones that the westerns yearned for. It can be said that for him his oriental descriptions played the function of reflection on modern western society. The Orient is playing a role as a catalyst to activate his thoughts. The way Benjamin looked at the Orient was greatly influenced by Bertolt Brecht. However, through his eyes seeing the Orient, he has attained his own unique way to cognize history. He tries to break away from historical philosophy of Hegel and Marx. Benjamin's way of understanding of history can also be compared with that of Shinran, the Japanese thinker.

Journal

  • Comparatio

    Comparatio 11 48-60, 2007-11-20

    Society of Comparative Culｔural Studies, Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University

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