Walter Benjamin

Even if one has a general knowledge of the way people walk, one knows nothing of a person's posture during the fractional second of a stride. The act of reaching for a lighter or a spoon is a familiar routine, yet we hardly know what really goes on between hand and metal, not to mention how this fluctuates with our moods. Here the camera intervenes with the resources of its lowerings and liftings, its interruptions and isolations, its extensions and accelerations, its enlargements and reductions. The camera introduces us to unconscious optics as does psychoanalysis to unconscious impulses.

 

I chose this passage by Walter Benjamin because it explains a routine.  It shows the repetitive of people and how a picture is worth a thousand words, but the emotion of a person caught on film can maybe tell a story.  Cameras can show daily walks in life, but it will never tell a story unless it is scripted to. 

On Pain

“On Pain” Page 17.

“The central question concerning the rank of present values can be answered by determining to what extent the body can be treated as an object. 

The secret of modern sensitivity is that it corresponds to a world in which the body is itself the highest value.”

This passage, although two different paragraphs, still intertwined in my opinion.  O chose this passage because it was extremely interesting how it explored the feelings and objects together.   We look at today’s times and take notice that as people we do not hold our bodies to be the highest in value.  We abuse our bodies and take advantage of our pain.  We profit off of our struggles but never realizing that what we go through corresponds with society.  In this aspect, the quote is correct because it takes from the point of view of their correspondent.  Visualizing how the world they live in “corresponds to a world in which the body is itself the highest value.”

Night and Fog

I was able to watch in full the documentary entitled “Night and Fog.”  I chose a scene in part two where the narrator was describing the old brick buildings that looked abandoned.  He explained how people would be tortured in these buildings and on the outside of the buildings; the air vents were not soundproof.  This building, although a prison, and torture was happening on a daily basis, the actual building structure took me back to my childhood neighborhood.  It reminded me of the abandoned buildings I used to run in and play with my friends.  But it also reminded me of the illegal activities that was formed in these buildings.  Comparing and contrasting the documentary with actual 1980’s lifestyle and evens, it seemed that torture continued within these buildings.  This scene shows history repeating itself, and this is why it was chosen. 

Weber

“To take a stand, to be passionate--ira et studium--is the politician's element, and above all the element of

the political leader”.

I chose this quote because the last portion of the quote intrigued me.  “Above all the element of the political leader.” This part of the quote is seemed to be as if only politicians can be leaders and responsible for truth, but truth comes with experience and lies lead to destruction of the soul.  But one can adapt to their lies and the wellbeing of only themselves, other than the responsibility of what comes with the truth.  “To take a stand” is to believe in yourself and your truth. “to be passionate” is to care for others as well as family and believe in truth, not just fabrications of truth. 

Articles of Law

Article 29 - “Reichstag sessions are public. If fifty members apply and a majority of two thirds decide in favour, the public can be excluded.”

This passage assures the general public that a choice can be made and apposed if necessary.  It gives the people power and knowledge to know and understand that their voice will still be heard and acknowledged. 

Article 120 - “It is the supreme obligation and natural right of the parents to raise their offspring to bodily, spiritual and social fitness; the governmental authority supervises it.”

This article is to assure parents that they are responsible for their children by all means.  But this passage has a twist because it also assures the parent that they are under supreme supervision as well.   In other words, the government is watching the parents watching their children. 

The reason I chose these two passages is because it lines together with thought but still places fear.  One passage assures that the peoples voice can and will be heard, but will also be over thrown by votes if necessary.  The other passage shows strength in numbers.  It tells a story, meaning a parent can be a parent under government supervision.  But it also shows a cost.  Meaning, while using the word “authority” it places a person in a category of a child.  In my opinion, it forces an adult to become the child.