International Walter Benjamin Society

International Walter Benjamin Society is a global organization dedicated to the study and promotion of the works of Walter Benjamin, a renowned German philosopher, cultural critic, and essayist, known for his influential writings on Marxism, Aesthetics, and Critical Theory. The society's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of Benjamin's ideas and their relevance to contemporary debates in Philosophy, Literary Theory, and Cultural Studies, as seen in the works of Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse. The society's activities are informed by the intellectual traditions of the Frankfurt School, Institute for Social Research, and the New School for Social Research. The society's members engage with the ideas of Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Emmanuel Levinas, among others, to advance the understanding of Benjamin's thought.

● History

The International Walter Benjamin Society was founded by a group of scholars, including Susan Buck-Morss, Rolf Tiedemann, and Gary Smith, who were instrumental in promoting Benjamin's work and legacy, particularly through the publication of his Arcades Project. The society's history is closely tied to the development of Critical Theory and the Frankfurt School, which was influenced by the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud. The society's early years were marked by collaborations with institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and the New York University, as well as with prominent thinkers like Jürgen Habermas, Axel Honneth, and Albrecht Wellmer. The society's historical context is also informed by the events of the Spanish Civil War, the Russian Revolution, and the Holocaust, which had a profound impact on Benjamin's life and work.

● Organization

The International Walter Benjamin Society is a non-profit organization with a global network of members, including scholars, researchers, and students from institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Paris. The society is governed by a board of directors, which includes prominent Benjamin scholars like Howard Eiland, Michael Jennings, and Rebecca Comay. The society's organizational structure is designed to facilitate collaboration and exchange among its members, who are affiliated with institutions such as the Institute for Advanced Study, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. The society's activities are also supported by partnerships with organizations like the Social Science Research Council, American Council of Learned Societies, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

● Activities

The International Walter Benjamin Society organizes a range of activities, including conferences, workshops, and seminars, which bring together scholars and researchers from around the world to discuss Benjamin's work and its relevance to contemporary issues. The society's activities are often held in collaboration with institutions such as the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and feature keynote speakers like Judith Butler, Slavoj Žižek, and Alain Badiou. The society also sponsors research projects and publications, such as the Walter Benjamin Archive, which is housed at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. The society's activities are informed by the intellectual traditions of Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, and Poststructuralism, and engage with the ideas of thinkers like Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida.

● Membership

Membership in the International Walter Benjamin Society is open to scholars, researchers, and students from around the world who are interested in Benjamin's work and its relevance to contemporary debates. The society's members come from a range of disciplines, including Philosophy, Literary Theory, Cultural Studies, and History, and are affiliated with institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of California, Los Angeles, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. The society's members also include prominent thinkers like Fredric Jameson, Terry Eagleton, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, who have made significant contributions to the field of Critical Theory. The society's membership is also informed by the intellectual traditions of Marxism, Feminism, and Postcolonialism, and engages with the ideas of thinkers like Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, and Edward Said.

● Publications

The International Walter Benjamin Society publishes a range of materials, including books, articles, and online resources, which are designed to promote a deeper understanding of Benjamin's work and its relevance to contemporary issues. The society's publications include the Walter Benjamin Studies series, which is published in collaboration with Harvard University Press, University of California Press, and Columbia University Press. The society's publications also include online resources, such as the Walter Benjamin Archive, which provides access to Benjamin's writings, correspondence, and other materials. The society's publications are informed by the intellectual traditions of Critical Theory, Cultural Studies, and Philosophy, and engage with the ideas of thinkers like Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse. The society's publications are also supported by partnerships with organizations like the Social Science Research Council, American Council of Learned Societies, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Category:Philosophical organizations