Cinema and Experience: Siegfried Kracauer, Walter Benjamin, and Theodor W. Adorno (Volume 44) (Weimar and Now: German Cultural Criticism)

Siegfried Kracauer, Walter Benjamin, and Theodor W. Adorno—affiliated through friendship, professional ties, and argument—developed an astute philosophical critique of modernity in which technological media played a key role. This book explores in depth their reflections on cinema and photography from the Weimar period up to the 1960s. Miriam Bratu Hansen brings to life an impressive archive of known and, in the case of Kracauer, less known materials and reveals surprising perspectives on canonic texts, including Benjamin's artwork essay. Her lucid analysis extrapolates from these writings the contours of a theory of cinema and experience that speaks to questions being posed anew as moving image culture evolves in response to digital technology. Miriam Bratu Hansen Brings To Life An Impressive Archive Of Known Less Well-known Materials And Reveals Surprising Perspectives On Canonical Texts. Her Analysis Provides The Contours Of A Theory Of Cinema And Experience That Speaks To Questions Being Posed Anew As Moving-image Culture Evolves In Response To Digital Technology. Kracauer. Film, Medium Of A Disintegrating World -- Curious Americanism -- Benjamin. Actuality, Antinomies -- Aura: The Appropriation Of A Concept -- Mistaking The Moon For A Ball -- Micky-maus -- Room-for-play -- Adorno. The Question Of Film Aesthetics -- Kracauer In Exile. Theory Of Film. Miriam Bratu Hansen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Frontmatter Preface (page ix) Acknowledgments (page xix) Abbreviations (page xxi) PART I. KRACAUER 1. Film, Medium of a Disintegrating World (page 3) 2. Curious Americanism (page 40) PART II. BENJAMIN 3. Actuality, Antinomies (page 75) 4. Aura: The Appropriation of a Concept (page 104) 5. Mistaking the Moon for a Ball (page 132) 6. Micky-Maus (page 163) 7. Play-Form of Second Nature (page 183) PART III. ADORNO 8. The Question of Film Aesthetics (page 207) PART IV. KRACAUER IN EXILE 9. Theory of Film (page 253) Notes (page 281) Index (page 357) Siegfried Kracauer, Walter Benjamin, and Theodor W Adorno - affiliated through friendship, professional ties, and argument - developed an astute philosophical critique of modernity in which technological media played a key role. This book explores their reflections on cinema and photography from the Weimar period up to the 1960s.