Theme 2: Critical media studies

Dialectic of Enlightenment

1.What is “Enlightenment”?

Enlightenment aims to guide humans to liberate from constraint and develop a sense of self-promotion with rationalism and knowledge. Fantasy and myths which are entirely illusory were produced because almost everything was unknown. But it would be replaced by advanced knowledge through enlightenment. Therefore enlightenment is undoubtedly approach to free individuals from fear.

2.What is “Dialectic”?

The definition of “Dialectic” in dictionary is a art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions. In philosophy, dialectics is a method of reasoning and reaching conclusions by considering theories and ideas together with ones that contradict them. In the chapter “The concept of Enlightenment”, actually dialectic is  the main logic of enlightenment. As knowledge is experience, dialectic means we try to verify the assumption before making a decision.

3.What is "Nominalism" and why is it an important concept in the text?

Nominalism is a metaphysical view in philosophy according to which general or abstract terms and predicates exists, while universals or abstract objects, which are sometimes thought to correspond to these terms, do not exist. In the text, nominalism is an necessary factor to prove that  fantasy and myths are illusory. As a consequence, enlightenment has the original intention which claims to break away from myths.

4.What is the meaning and function of "myth" in Adorno and Horkheimer's argument?

Myth is "Myth is already enlightenment, and enlightenment reverts to mythology” is the fundamental basis in Adorno and Horkheimer’s argument. Myth is a story that describes unknown world in case of covering up fear. “Myth” is always mentioned in the text because the authors try to use enlightenment to dispel myths which are not really existed in the world.

"The Work of Art in the Age of Technical Reproductivity”

1.In 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?

Superstructure can be regarded as culture included laws, religions, society and art which takes place far more slowly than that of the general production such as economy which is described as substructure. Marxist criticized the capitalistic mode of production through its basic conditions. Likewise from Marxist perspective, analyzing cultural production should pay attention to the fundamental substructure of cultural production.

2.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, inevitably culture have revolutionary potentials. Actually culture as film, photography, and newspaper is usually of great social significance. For example, as Atget took photographs of deserted Paris streets for being said photographed for the purpose of establishing evidence, photographs become standard evidence for historical occurrences and acquire a hidden political significance. In addition, Benjamin’s perspective do differ from the perspective of Adorno and Horkheimer which take mass culture regard as a controlling tool for the mass.

3.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).

Through the example of the birth of the late Roman art industry and the Vienna Genesis in fifth century which developed not only an art different from that of antiquity but also a new kind of perception, Benjamin give his idea that the manner in which human sense perception is organized, the medium in which it is accomplished, is determined not only by nature but by historical circumstances as well. Since knowledge is perception, at the same time knowledge is also experience, using natural and historical to describe perception is excellent.

4.What does Benjamin mean by the term "aura"? Are there different kinds of aura in natural objects compared to art objects?

Aura is Echtheit which is equal with unique. In the essay, Benjamin says “We define the aura of the latter as the unique phenomenon of a distance, however close it may be”. And there is an example given at the same time which requires us follow with our eyes a branch which casts its shadow over us, we will experience the aura of that branch. Natural objects have unique aura in different space and time, while aura for art objects is only existed in its original version, not reproduction which even the most perfect reproduction of a art object is lacking in one element.