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lookhome's review against another edition
5.0
A spiralling, enthralling dip into the minds of many an interesting and intriguing author, artist and creator.
Where to begin. There's so much vague talk of what Benjamin's Arcades Project entails and its importance in the 'canon' that it feel hard to do it justice. Is it history, fiction, literature, philosophy? When you finally sit down to read it, and sit you must, (it took a while to read simply because it's not really something you can drag out of the house. being too thick to fit in anything but a large backpack), you realize that above all it's about humanity. About how we think and act or rather how we thought and acted at the turn of the century in Paris, and by this book's logic, the world.
As a whole, it is the history of France in fragments through the lens of the evolution and eventual dissolution of the gaslit arcade. It is about flaneurs, about authors, about production, revolution and change. It is funny, odd, revealing and memorable.
It is a truly great work of art and an eye-opening experience. The words flow from the lips of its many authors. Most mysterious of all is how little I'd heard about it in regards to Benjamin as an editor rather than an author. There are quotations from newspapers, from oral histories, from fictions, poetry and criticisms. There's a spiral of references in a variety of languages.
There's the mystery of the black suitcase that may have contained the completed text.
Above all, there's simply the joy of reading something new. Something fresh, something unexpected.
Worth a read, even if it comes in spurts. Quotations to follow at some point and time.
Where to begin. There's so much vague talk of what Benjamin's Arcades Project entails and its importance in the 'canon' that it feel hard to do it justice. Is it history, fiction, literature, philosophy? When you finally sit down to read it, and sit you must, (it took a while to read simply because it's not really something you can drag out of the house. being too thick to fit in anything but a large backpack), you realize that above all it's about humanity. About how we think and act or rather how we thought and acted at the turn of the century in Paris, and by this book's logic, the world.
As a whole, it is the history of France in fragments through the lens of the evolution and eventual dissolution of the gaslit arcade. It is about flaneurs, about authors, about production, revolution and change. It is funny, odd, revealing and memorable.
It is a truly great work of art and an eye-opening experience. The words flow from the lips of its many authors. Most mysterious of all is how little I'd heard about it in regards to Benjamin as an editor rather than an author. There are quotations from newspapers, from oral histories, from fictions, poetry and criticisms. There's a spiral of references in a variety of languages.
There's the mystery of the black suitcase that may have contained the completed text.
Above all, there's simply the joy of reading something new. Something fresh, something unexpected.
Worth a read, even if it comes in spurts. Quotations to follow at some point and time.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
2.0
Walter Benjamin is, to me, the "makes no goddamn sense, compels me though" guy.
jenzhng's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Fascinating insight into 19th century Paris. Who people read during the time. What peoples' favorite past-times were. How they had fun before movies were a thing ("panoramas"). How people defined themselves as individuals by forming collections of antiques and art - why flea markets are hugely popular. Reminds us that this period of time wasn't too long ago. People-watching with informed analysis.
emilymcmc's review
5.0
It's sort of cheating to mark this as read, since you skip around for days and just enjoy. One of those books that zips together all kinds of stray bits of knowledge.
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