Understanding Walter Benjamin's Elusive Thinkings

Walter Benjamin's work is a combination of diverse influences such as Kant, Marx, German literary criticism, and Jewish mysticism. His critique of twentieth-century culture is often perceived as difficult and incomprehensible. To comprehend Benjamin's ideas, it is important to grasp the overall understanding of his thought before delving into more complex topics. A starting point can be his early essay called 'The Task of the Translator.' Benjamin explores the role of a translator in conveying the meaning of a work of art. He argues against the belief that the task of translation is to make the text accessible for readers in the new language, asserting instead that the translator should focus on faithfully reproducing the contents of the original text. Through this essay, Benjamin reveals the importance of understanding the unique nature of art and the limitations of reproducing its aura through translation.