Studies on contemporary art and culture by one of the most original, critical and analytical minds of this century. Benjamin was 39 when he wrote unpacking my library. As i unpacked some of the book art from my library to show students on the. A talk about book collecting with the observation that his books are not yet on the shelves, not yet touched by the mild boredom of order. First, the words the happiness project, the title of a book by gretchen rubin, in stout dark gray. Published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name, unpacking my library opens with an essay from walter benjamin. The artist rainer ganahl is similarly inspired by a bygone figure. This classic essay meditates on the book collectors connection to his library through ownership and memory. What does the collecting of books have in common with the practice of architecture. History and culture of museums, archives, and other repositories h72. I cannot march up and down their ranks to pass them in view before a friendly audience. More praiseworthy quotes of all the ways of acquiring books, writing them oneself is regarded as the most praiseworthy method. Illuminations includes benjamins views on kafka, with whom he felt the closest personal affinity, his studies on baudelaire and proust both of whom he translated, his essays on leskov and on brechts epic theater. A reading from unpacking my library by walter benjamin a talk about book collecting i am unpacking my library.
The essay is superficially about the act of organizing his large book collection on the. Taking its inspiration from walter benjamins seminal 1931 essay, the unpacking my library series charts a spirited exploration of the reading and book collecting practices of todays leading thinkers. Benjamin seeks to describe book collectors and the means they acquire their collectionsby writing books, borrowing them with intent of not returning, purchasing them, and inheriting them. Nov 30, 2009 what does the collecting of books have in common with the practice of architecture. A talk about book collecting, and i was wondering if you could think of any similar essays about the private libraries of great writers. If you are one of those people who stears clear from the small talk at dinner parties and instead heads straight for your hosts library to nose your way up and down the shelves, then this book is for you. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about unpacking my library. Apr 30, 2009 he is a true collector, more specifically a book collector. A talk about book collecting, 1931 effective democratization can always be measured by this essential criterion. Unpacking my library walter benjamin on collecting books notes from somewhere bizarre blog walter benjamin on book collecting. Yes i am,a a writes the germanborn critic walter benjamin in exuberant spirit, as he expounds a note that i rstperson pronoun, that autobiographical a a i,a a sharp and clear and jaunty a on the pleasures, the inea able loveliness of books, books and the collecting bug. I like it for reasons unrelated to the words on the pages, the words. On book collecting, city lights and the beat museum.
Publication date 2010 note originally published as a chapter of his illuminations. Behind every artist is a rich collection, a library, compiled of works by other. His performance selling my library is based on the walter benjamin essay unpacking my. I recently read walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers home groups talk zeitgeist. Collections are rarely begun without some attachment to the object, some memory tied to the physical thing. Benjamin and blake in cambridge tears in the fence.
We began with reading walter benjamins 1931 essay, unpacking my library. What type of museum may have the following words used in relation to it. Aug 10, 2017 soon after this experience, a friend gave me a copy of benjamins essay unpacking my library. Please read and accept the terms and conditions and check the.
Soon after this experience, a friend gave me a copy of benjamins essay unpacking my library. Photographs of bookshelves displaying wellloved and. Read more about the unpacking my library blog below. Nov 01, 2011 unpacking my library is a collection of interviews on the bookish habits of thirteen contemporary writers, accompanied by pictures of their libraries. Can these terms be applied to other types of collecting institutions. A talk about book collecting pdf link, my goal is personal rather than intellectual. Apr 23, 20 i have just been reading walter benjamins essay unpacking my library, a talk about book collecting, published in illuminations pimlico 1999. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. This is a note on walter benjamins essay on collecting, unpacking my library orig. A talk about book collecting, you are likely to be drawn into benjamins literary world quite quickly. His performance selling my library is based on the walter benjamin essay unpacking my library. How do books map the intellectual interests, curiosities, tastes, and personalities of their readers.
In his essay unpacking my library he takes a serious if not. I spent my winter break this year packing up my office and moving to a new. Unpacking benjamins collection by pil and galia kollectiv, coelacanth journal, london. Walter benjamins unpacking my library illuminations. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Unpacking my library is the title for the body of artistic work discussed in this documentation. What does a library say about the mind of its owner. The books are not yet on the shelves, not yet touched by the mild boredom of order.
This essay, first published in 1931, begins with a cheerful series of remarks from the author to his audience. Nothing is further from my mind than to shake either your conviction or your distrust. A mailart performance and other treats at performa 15 the. The title comes from walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. Project muse the life of things in the place of howards. These essays are among benjamins most highly esteemed and are the last two selections in the book. We simply type a few words into the search box, extract the fragment we. A talk about book collecting pdf link, my goal is personal rather than. Jan 09, 2014 each time i move offices, i read walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. What i am really concerned with is giving you some insight into the relationship of a book collector to his possessions, into collecting rather than a. In his essay unpacking my library he takes a serious if not humorous look at the act of collecting and the relationship between the collector and his or her possessions.
Writers and their books spotlights the personal libraries of thirteen favorite novelists who share their collections with readers. Walter benjamin belongs to a group of people who he feels is becoming extinct. All in boxes, he takes the reader through elements of his book collection. Also included are his penetrating study on the work. Sep 03, 2015 benjamin begins his essay unpacking my library. Benjamins book collector, by way of contrast, applies them to himself and to the specific copies he collects. Unpacking benjamin by jose angel garcia landa ssrn. By using archdaily, you agree to our terms of use, privacy policy and cookie policy. Be ready to share with me a bit of the moodit is certainly not an elegiac mood but, rather, one of anticipationwhich these books arouse in a genuine collector. Each time i move offices, i read walter benjamins essay unpacking my library. In 1931, walter benjamin wrote a brief essay entitled unpacking my library.
Reflections on walter benjamins unpacking my library on. In a talk about book collecting, titled unpacking my library from illuminations, walter benjamin cites the expression in its short form, noting that the words are often intended as a general statement about books. Pearce, russell belk, jean baudrillard, and stanley cavell, among others. Although the title of this blog is taken from walter benjamins wellknown essay from illuminations, unpacking my library. The task of the translator an introduction to the translation of baudelaires tableaux parisiens. I love reading authors talking about their own reading experiencesit seems like such a beautiful way to understand how and why they write. A talk about book collecting 67 a dwelling is characterized less by its architecture than by the quality of life that is sustained in it edward casey, how to get from space to place in a fairly short stretch of time 27.
Stunning photographs provide full views of the libraries and closeups of individual volumes. Oct 01, 2011 unpacking the archive unpacking the archive bernard, louise 20111001 00. Instead, he uses words like love and enchantment to describe the relationship. Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like. The early weeks of the class focused on how collecting has been defined by various authors and scholars in the field. Writing about the palpable nature of book collecting he says what i am really concerned with is giving you some insight into the relationship of a book collector to his possessions, into collecting rather. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The marketing professor in the age of electronic reproduction show all authors. The inspiration for this essay was the act of unpacking his library after its twoyear storage. He is a true collector, more specifically a book collector. Unpacking my library by jo steffens yale university press. This is a book about books, but it even more importantly highlights the role. Jun 08, 2017 benjamin was 39 when he wrote unpacking my library.
A talk about book collecting and continued on with studies by susan m. Unpacking my library is a collection of interviews on the bookish habits of thirteen contemporary writers, accompanied by pictures of their libraries. A talk about book collecting, in illuminations, arendt, hannah, ed. The works in the show are about existing or imaginary libraries, libraries of the past or the future, with a literal or virtual presence, in physical space or in a digital environment.
The storyteller reflections on the works of nikolai leskov. Unpacking my kindle library, i click menu on my screen and find. The work has been produced over a fouryear period and consists of four interrelated sets of artists books and framed wall images that make up my library. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular book s condition. Unpacking my library goodreads meet your next favorite book. The essay was first published in 1931 in literarische welt. Nov, 2015 a mailart performance and other treats at performa 15. Benjamins reflections on collecting are analyzed with reference to modernist themes in baudelaire and proust, and to the modernist concern with memory in the structuring of the self. Its a small book, perfect gift size, about 5 34 inches high by 8 inches in wide, and 201 pages. The organization and objective, contextually driven design of. A collection of books, then, can contain both shortterm memories for the reader. Benjamin, as a writer collecting books, finds that the act of collecting borders on the chaos of memories 59. Mar 07, 2010 unpacking my kindle library, i click menu on my screen and find.
Reflections on walter benjamins unpacking my library on the. As he unpacks his library, he describes how each book evokes in his mind a wave of memories. Illuminations unpacking my library summary course hero. In keeping with the subtitle, a talk about book collecting, benjamin announces his intention to talk about the activity or process of collecting itself, rather than speaking specifically about his own collection or library. I read it in a collection of benjamins essays and reflections called illuminations that i purchased primarily to read his more famous essay, the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. Mar 12, 2020 unpacking my library a talk about book collecting.
This keepsake, suggested by professors martin jay and catherine gallagher, has been designed and printed at the arion press in an edition of 300 copies for presentation to members of the roxburghe and zamorano clubs at the joint meeting in san francisco on october 16, 2010, and to arion press. This keepsake, suggested by professors martin jay and catherine gallagher, has been designed and printed at the arion press in an edition of 300 copies for presentation to members of the roxburghe and zamorano clubs at t. I read it in a collection of benjamins essays and reflections called illuminations that i purchased primarily to read his more famous essay, the work of art in. I have just been reading walter benjamins essay unpacking my library, a talk about book collecting, published in illuminations pimlico 1999. In this essay, written in 1931, walter benjamin narrates the process of unpacking his library. A mailart performance and other treats at performa 15. Unpacking my library provides an intimate look at the personal libraries of twelve of the worlds leading architects, alongside conversations about the significance of books to their careers and lives.