From Theory to Tragedy: Rereading Benjamin’s “Aestheticization of Politics” and “Politicization of Art” in Hindsight
AI generated image “Fascism attempts to organize the newly created proletarian masses without affecting the property structure which the masses strive to eliminate. Fascism sees its salvation in giving these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves… The logical outcome of Fascism is an aestheticizing of political life. Communism responds by politicizing art .” Walter Benjamin Introduction In the closing lines of The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1935), Walter Benjamin delivers his most cited political opposition: “The logical outcome of Fascism is an aestheticizing of political life. Communism responds by politicizing art” (Benjamin, 1969, p. 242). For Benjamin, fascism’s strategy was to mesmerize the masses through spectacle while preserving existing property relations; communism’s alternative was to redirect artistic production toward political struggle. Brilliant as this opposition appeared in its own day, hinds...