Images of the Past: Introduction to Walter Benjamin and “Berlin Childhood Around 1900”

In “Images of the Past” we introduce the times, life and philosophical
\nformation of the early twentieth century German Jewish philosopher and
\npioneering cultural critic Walter Benjamin. We discuss his theories of experience
\nand nonsensuous similarities and refer to his masterpiece “Berlin
\nChildhood around 1900” to examine these and other key concepts in his
\nwork. Representing a peak in his exceptionally fecund and still immediately
\nrelevant contribution, the book is a profound meditation on childhood,
\nmemory, language and long experience (Erfahrung), and a vivid illustration
\nof his concept of the “social unconscious.”