Trata-se de uma leitura crítica do romance On the Road, do escritor norte-americano Jack Kerouac, cujas vida e obra representam a insatisfação social e a manifestação artística de uma geração de poetas e novelistas denominada, nas décadas de 50 e 60, The Beat Generation ou The Beatniks. Esta leitura consiste em uma investigação para estabelecer relações entre a tríade autor-narrador-protagonista na narrativa proposta. Como apoio teórico temos o olhar do filósofo alemão Walter Benjamin. O enfoque escolhido contempla as reflexões de Benjamin sobre autoria, experiência e modernidade; mas, sobretudo, privilegia a sua concepção do flâneur; uma vez que o objetivo do trabalho é mostrar o movimento e o papel exercido pelo mesmo, tanto no corpus literário como na vida do autor Beatnik. Para tanto, esta dissertação está dividida em três partes. A primeira apresenta um breve histórico da situação dos Estados Unidos no pós-guerra, a fim de contextualizar e discutir a criação do movimento Beat como vanguarda artística daquela época. A segunda parte introduz o pensamento de Walter Benjamin acerca do flâneur. Destaca, também, fatos e momentos relevantes de sua vida e obra. Apresenta, ainda, o ponto de vista de Sérgio Rouanet sobre a obra do filósofo. O terceiro momento analisa o romance On the Road em conexão com os movimentos do flâneur e no âmbito da tradição de Literatura de Viagem, dando relevância às questões de autoria. Deste modo, na conclusão, espera-se legitimar o papel do flâneur no espaço narrativo e, também, histórico-social daquela geração. / This is a critical reading of On the Road, a novel by the North American writer Jack Kerouac, whose life and work represent the social dissatisfaction and the artistic manifestation of a generation of poets and novelists denominated, in the decades of 50 and 60, The Beat Generation, or The Beatniks. The work consists of an investigation to establish relationships among the triad author-narrator-protagonist in the proposed narrative. Supported by the theory of Walter Benjamin, the chosen theme contemplates the reflections of Benjamin about authorship, experience and modernity; but, above all, it privileges his conception of the flâneur; once the objective of the work is to show his movement and role in the literary corpus, as well as in the life of the Beatnik author. This thesis is divided in three parts. The first presents a brief historical comment on the situation of the United States in the postwar period, in order to contextualize and discuss the creation of the Beat Movement as an avantgardist manifestation. The second part introduces Kerouac and Benjamin, highlighting facts and important moments of their lives and work through the movements of the flâneur. The third moment analyzes On the Road in connection with Walter Benjamin's thoughts and in the extent of the tradition of Travel Literature, emphasizing the relevance of authorship. In the conclusion, I expect to legitimate the role of the flâneur in the narrative and socio-historical scope of that generation.

O presente trabalho consiste na formulação, no desenvolvimento e exame da hipótese de que o conto de Machado de Assis produz um “efeito de vertigem”, desestabilização inquietante na leitura, corte com uma pretensa linearidade, e que, sustentamos, encontra-se ligado à estrutura da narrativa. O “efeito de vertigem” apresenta-se em contos que, podemos dizer, são representativos da força do estilo de Machado, por uma razão não qualquer – funcionam como “operadores de passagem”: a vertigem joga com continuidade/descontinuidade, fascínio/ perturbação, as simultaneidades, o enigma na lida com os limites, com o real, na ficção e na vida. Encontramos nos contos, na proximidade e em relação ao efeito de vertigem, o trato ficcional que põe em questão as descontinuidades fundamentais, interrogantes da condição humana – o sexo e a morte; as mesmas que configuram as perguntas que se colocaram para Freud, em toda sua obra, pelo viés da clínica psicanalítica. A verdade subjetiva tem íntima relação com a ficção, portanto escolhemos seguir examinando a proximidade da forma da narrativa machadiana com sua vertigem, do trabalho de Freud com as “passagens” na relação ao inconsciente (aqui ganha destaque a relação entre o chiste, a obliqüidade e a ironia) e da elaboração de Lacan com relação à estrutura do sujeito, com a topologia da banda de Moebius. Neste ponto, as teses de Ricardo Piglia sobre a forma do conto integram o exame sobre a estrutura, assim como a consideração do termo das “passagens” sobre as quais tanto trabalhou Walter Benjamin. A conclusão leva à consideração do “efeito de vertigem” como um princípio de composição (não chave de leitura) do conto, presente em contos que podemos situar como representativos da obra de Machado de Assis. Passagens paradoxais, lugares de trânsito dos enigmas que são transportados do imaginário social para a grande ficção, recorte de algo singular, mas que diz também de uma dimensão do coletivo de um contexto e de um tempo, via o “relâmpago” da forma conto, ao modo machadiano. / The present work consists in formulating, developing and examining the hypothesis in which Machado de Assis’ tale produces a “vertigo effect”, disturbing destabilization during the process of reading, cut with an intended linearity, and that, we sustain, is connected to the narrative structure. The “vertigo effect” is present in tales that, we can say, represent the strength of Machado’s style, not for any reason – they work as “passage operators”: the vertigo plays with the continuity/discontinuity, fascination/perturbation, simultaneities, the enigma in dealing with the limits as the reality, in fiction and in life. We find in the tales, in the proximity and in relation to vertigo effect, the fictional trait that interrogates the fundamental discontinuities, questions of the human condition – sex and death; the same that configured the inquiries which came to Freud throughout his production, through the psychoanalytical clinic. The subjective truth has an intimate relation with fiction, so that we chose to keep on following the proximity of the Machado’s narrative form with its vertigo, of Freud’s work with the “passages” in relation tothe unconsciousness (point in which the relation among the joke, obliquity and irony is highlighted) and of the elaboration by Lacan on the structure of the subject, with the topology of the “Moebius band”. At this point, the assessment of Ricardo Piglia on the form of the tale integrates the exam about the structure as well as the consideration of the term “passages”, so much developed by Walter Benjamin. The conclusion takes into consideration the “vertigo effect” as a composition principle (not as reading key) of the tale, present in tales that we can situate as representative of Machado de Assis’ work. Paradoxal passages, transitory places of the enigmas that are transported from the social imaginary to the great fiction, cut of something unique, but that also brings a dimension of the collectivity of a context and of a time, through the “bolt” of the form tale, in Machado’s way.

Trata-se de uma leitura crítica do romance On the Road, do escritor norte-americano Jack Kerouac, cujas vida e obra representam a insatisfação social e a manifestação artística de uma geração de poetas e novelistas denominada, nas décadas de 50 e 60, The Beat Generation ou The Beatniks. Esta leitura consiste em uma investigação para estabelecer relações entre a tríade autor-narrador-protagonista na narrativa proposta. Como apoio teórico temos o olhar do filósofo alemão Walter Benjamin. O enfoque escolhido contempla as reflexões de Benjamin sobre autoria, experiência e modernidade; mas, sobretudo, privilegia a sua concepção do flâneur; uma vez que o objetivo do trabalho é mostrar o movimento e o papel exercido pelo mesmo, tanto no corpus literário como na vida do autor Beatnik. Para tanto, esta dissertação está dividida em três partes. A primeira apresenta um breve histórico da situação dos Estados Unidos no pós-guerra, a fim de contextualizar e discutir a criação do movimento Beat como vanguarda artística daquela época. A segunda parte introduz o pensamento de Walter Benjamin acerca do flâneur. Destaca, também, fatos e momentos relevantes de sua vida e obra. Apresenta, ainda, o ponto de vista de Sérgio Rouanet sobre a obra do filósofo. O terceiro momento analisa o romance On the Road em conexão com os movimentos do flâneur e no âmbito da tradição de Literatura de Viagem, dando relevância às questões de autoria. Deste modo, na conclusão, espera-se legitimar o papel do flâneur no espaço narrativo e, também, histórico-social daquela geração. / This is a critical reading of On the Road, a novel by the North American writer Jack Kerouac, whose life and work represent the social dissatisfaction and the artistic manifestation of a generation of poets and novelists denominated, in the decades of 50 and 60, The Beat Generation, or The Beatniks. The work consists of an investigation to establish relationships among the triad author-narrator-protagonist in the proposed narrative. Supported by the theory of Walter Benjamin, the chosen theme contemplates the reflections of Benjamin about authorship, experience and modernity; but, above all, it privileges his conception of the flâneur; once the objective of the work is to show his movement and role in the literary corpus, as well as in the life of the Beatnik author. This thesis is divided in three parts. The first presents a brief historical comment on the situation of the United States in the postwar period, in order to contextualize and discuss the creation of the Beat Movement as an avantgardist manifestation. The second part introduces Kerouac and Benjamin, highlighting facts and important moments of their lives and work through the movements of the flâneur. The third moment analyzes On the Road in connection with Walter Benjamin's thoughts and in the extent of the tradition of Travel Literature, emphasizing the relevance of authorship. In the conclusion, I expect to legitimate the role of the flâneur in the narrative and socio-historical scope of that generation.

ALBUQUERQUE, Edvaldo Siqueira; OLIVEIRA JÚNIOR, Antônio Wellington de. Digital do oprimido: tecnologia em vida não linear. 2009. 151f. Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação Social, Fortaleza-CE, 2009 / Submitted by Maria Josineide Góis (josineide@ufc.br) on 2011-08-29T10:53:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Dis_ESALBUQUERQUE.pdf: 356246 bytes, checksum: 08e795e5b4c4f7e87caa5ef4678ad171 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2011-08-29T10:54:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Dis_ESALBUQUERQUE.pdf: 356246 bytes, checksum: 08e795e5b4c4f7e87caa5ef4678ad171 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-08-29T10:54:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Dis_ESALBUQUERQUE.pdf: 356246 bytes, checksum: 08e795e5b4c4f7e87caa5ef4678ad171 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / The philosophical and aesthetic ideas launched by Walter Benjamin in the period between the Great Wars were seminal for the interpretation of the role of arts and communication both in the 20th century, as in the present. The prognostic character of his ideas led to an exploration of the future technological environment that would arise in times of market economy and also makes us reflect on the possibilities of the technology be incorporated into the daily life of the poorest. From the identification of the advent of reproducibility, it see new horizons for the arts, launched democratic light on the reception of artistic activity, whose task should be given to the consumption of the masses. What we propose is to investigate the interference of digital cultural practices and production of imagery originating within urban communities on the outskirts of Fortaleza today's time where technology dominates all areas of their production in order to demonstrate the success of the critically Benjamin´s enterprise and understand the extent to which technology comes this production and its symbolic practices, encouraging it or not. To do this, trying update concepts, investigate the production of digital adolescents on the periphery, watching and listening to what young people are "saying" or "telling" through the digital image. / RESUMO As reflexões filosóficas e estéticas lançadas por Walter Benjamin no período compreendido entre as Grandes Guerras foram seminais para a interpretação do papel das artes e da comunicação tanto no século 20, como no atual. O caráter prognóstico de suas idéias permitiu fazer uma prospecção futura do ambiente tecnológico que viria a surgir nos tempos de economia de mercado e ainda nos faz refletir nas possibilidades de a tecnologia ser incorporada ao cotidiano dos mais humildes. A partir da identificação do advento da reprodutibilidade, ele enxergou novos horizontes para as artes, lançou luz sobre a recepção democrática da atividade artística, cuja realização deve ser dada para o consumo das massas. O que proponho é investigar a intromissão do universo digital nas práticas culturais e na produção imagética advindas do interior de comunidades da periferia urbana da Fortaleza de hoje, tempo onde a tecnologia domina todas as áreas de sua produção, a fim de comprovar criticamente o êxito do empreendimento benjaminiano e entender até que ponto a tecnologia toca esta produção e suas práticas simbólicas, favorecendo-a ou não. Para isso, procurando atualizar conceitos, investigo a produção imagética digital de adolescentes da periferia, vendo e ouvindo o que os jovens estão “dizendo” ou “narrando” através da imagem digital.

O presente trabalho consiste na formulação, no desenvolvimento e exame da hipótese de que o conto de Machado de Assis produz um “efeito de vertigem”, desestabilização inquietante na leitura, corte com uma pretensa linearidade, e que, sustentamos, encontra-se ligado à estrutura da narrativa. O “efeito de vertigem” apresenta-se em contos que, podemos dizer, são representativos da força do estilo de Machado, por uma razão não qualquer – funcionam como “operadores de passagem”: a vertigem joga com continuidade/descontinuidade, fascínio/ perturbação, as simultaneidades, o enigma na lida com os limites, com o real, na ficção e na vida. Encontramos nos contos, na proximidade e em relação ao efeito de vertigem, o trato ficcional que põe em questão as descontinuidades fundamentais, interrogantes da condição humana – o sexo e a morte; as mesmas que configuram as perguntas que se colocaram para Freud, em toda sua obra, pelo viés da clínica psicanalítica. A verdade subjetiva tem íntima relação com a ficção, portanto escolhemos seguir examinando a proximidade da forma da narrativa machadiana com sua vertigem, do trabalho de Freud com as “passagens” na relação ao inconsciente (aqui ganha destaque a relação entre o chiste, a obliqüidade e a ironia) e da elaboração de Lacan com relação à estrutura do sujeito, com a topologia da banda de Moebius. Neste ponto, as teses de Ricardo Piglia sobre a forma do conto integram o exame sobre a estrutura, assim como a consideração do termo das “passagens” sobre as quais tanto trabalhou Walter Benjamin. A conclusão leva à consideração do “efeito de vertigem” como um princípio de composição (não chave de leitura) do conto, presente em contos que podemos situar como representativos da obra de Machado de Assis. Passagens paradoxais, lugares de trânsito dos enigmas que são transportados do imaginário social para a grande ficção, recorte de algo singular, mas que diz também de uma dimensão do coletivo de um contexto e de um tempo, via o “relâmpago” da forma conto, ao modo machadiano. / The present work consists in formulating, developing and examining the hypothesis in which Machado de Assis’ tale produces a “vertigo effect”, disturbing destabilization during the process of reading, cut with an intended linearity, and that, we sustain, is connected to the narrative structure. The “vertigo effect” is present in tales that, we can say, represent the strength of Machado’s style, not for any reason – they work as “passage operators”: the vertigo plays with the continuity/discontinuity, fascination/perturbation, simultaneities, the enigma in dealing with the limits as the reality, in fiction and in life. We find in the tales, in the proximity and in relation to vertigo effect, the fictional trait that interrogates the fundamental discontinuities, questions of the human condition – sex and death; the same that configured the inquiries which came to Freud throughout his production, through the psychoanalytical clinic. The subjective truth has an intimate relation with fiction, so that we chose to keep on following the proximity of the Machado’s narrative form with its vertigo, of Freud’s work with the “passages” in relation tothe unconsciousness (point in which the relation among the joke, obliquity and irony is highlighted) and of the elaboration by Lacan on the structure of the subject, with the topology of the “Moebius band”. At this point, the assessment of Ricardo Piglia on the form of the tale integrates the exam about the structure as well as the consideration of the term “passages”, so much developed by Walter Benjamin. The conclusion takes into consideration the “vertigo effect” as a composition principle (not as reading key) of the tale, present in tales that we can situate as representative of Machado de Assis’ work. Paradoxal passages, transitory places of the enigmas that are transported from the social imaginary to the great fiction, cut of something unique, but that also brings a dimension of the collectivity of a context and of a time, through the “bolt” of the form tale, in Machado’s way.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:39:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4237.pdf: 520569 bytes, checksum: 72f7a2b179a16755f4a3dde30915a2f0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-15 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / According to studies developed by the Critical Theory of Society, particularly Theodor Theodor W. Adorno (1984, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2010), Max Horkheimer (1984, 1980) and Walter Benjamin (1970, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992), the proliferation of the apparatus of the culture industry becomes, gradually, the formative experience increasingly scarce and superficial. The society of information is the same that nevertheless, imposes on its subject a condition of semi-formation to expropriate them the signs of interaction with the world, especially in the establishment of a form of instrumental language. In infancy, the formatting of the bodies through the school subject, which ignores the subjective forms of expression of the child, supports with the gradual curtailment of the possibilities of human emancipation. This research aimed to understand how multiple languages in childhood are decoded in the school environment as an unruly act, and to be repaired by formatting the children's bodies, so this practice relates to a semi-formative educational model. / Conforme os estudos desenvolvidos pela Teoria Crítica da Sociedade, particularmente Theodor W. Adorno (1985, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2010), Max Horkheimer (1985, 1980) e Walter Benjamin (1970, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992), a proliferação do aparato da indústria cultural torna, gradativamente, a experiência formativa cada vez mais escassa e superficial. A sociedade da informação, é a mesma que em contra partida, impõe a seus sujeitos uma condição de semiformação ao expropriar-lhes os signos de interação com o mundo, sobretudo na constituição de uma modalidade de linguagem instrumental. Na infância, a formatação dos corpos através da disciplina escolar, que ignora as formas de expressão subjetiva da criança, corrobora o cerceamento gradual das possibilidades de emancipação dos homens. Esta pesquisa objetivou compreender como as múltiplas linguagens na infância são decodificadas no ambiente escolar enquanto ato indisciplinar, e ao serem remediadas através da formatação dos corpos do infanto, de que forma tal prática relaciona-se com um modelo educacional semiformativo

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-05-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:20:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 specian_mm_me_sjrp.pdf: 1393899 bytes, checksum: 230b9f81c830783ddf614bf55e1f6dce (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente estudo analisa a alegoria que estrutura o romance Sangue de Coca-Cola (1980), de Roberto Drummond. A teoria sobre a alegoria utilizada é a proposta por Walter Benjamin, principalmente em Origem do Drama Barroco Alemão (1984). Realiza-se um breve percurso explicativo sobre a alegoria e os modos como ela foi interpretada no decorrer de sua história. De um modo geral, há uma alternância entre seu uso convencional, unívoco, e seu uso expressivo, referente ao momento histórico em que foi criada e cujo sentido é atribuído ao longo do tempo. Sangue de Coca-Cola, romance escrito durante a decadência da ditadura militar brasileira, refere-se ao momento histórico confuso no qual não havia mais um inimigo claro a ser combatido. A alegoria constituinte de Sangue de Coca-Cola não apresenta um sentido claro e definido: forma um “mosaico” de múltiplos fragmentos que se comunicam e que se contrapõem, articulados num painel expressivo da realidade histórica naquele momento de crise. / This study examines the allegory that structures the novel Sangue de Coca-Cola (1980), by Roberto Drummond. The theory of the allegory used is that proposed by Walter Benjamin, especially in Origem do drama barroco alemão (1984). Is held a short course on the explanatory allegory and the ways in which it was interpreted in the course of its history. In general, there is an alternation between its conventional use, unambiguous, and its expressive use, referring to the historical moment in which it was created and whose meaning is allocated over time. Sangue de Coca-Cola, novel written during the decadence of the Brazilian military dictatorship, refers to the confused historical moment in which there was not one clear enemy to be fought. The allegory constituent of Sangue de Coca-Cola does not present a clear and definite meaning: as a mosaic of multiple pieces that communicate and are opposed to each other, articulated in a panel of significant historical reality at that moment of crisis.

O presente trabalho consiste na formulação, no desenvolvimento e exame da hipótese de que o conto de Machado de Assis produz um “efeito de vertigem”, desestabilização inquietante na leitura, corte com uma pretensa linearidade, e que, sustentamos, encontra-se ligado à estrutura da narrativa. O “efeito de vertigem” apresenta-se em contos que, podemos dizer, são representativos da força do estilo de Machado, por uma razão não qualquer – funcionam como “operadores de passagem”: a vertigem joga com continuidade/descontinuidade, fascínio/ perturbação, as simultaneidades, o enigma na lida com os limites, com o real, na ficção e na vida. Encontramos nos contos, na proximidade e em relação ao efeito de vertigem, o trato ficcional que põe em questão as descontinuidades fundamentais, interrogantes da condição humana – o sexo e a morte; as mesmas que configuram as perguntas que se colocaram para Freud, em toda sua obra, pelo viés da clínica psicanalítica. A verdade subjetiva tem íntima relação com a ficção, portanto escolhemos seguir examinando a proximidade da forma da narrativa machadiana com sua vertigem, do trabalho de Freud com as “passagens” na relação ao inconsciente (aqui ganha destaque a relação entre o chiste, a obliqüidade e a ironia) e da elaboração de Lacan com relação à estrutura do sujeito, com a topologia da banda de Moebius. Neste ponto, as teses de Ricardo Piglia sobre a forma do conto integram o exame sobre a estrutura, assim como a consideração do termo das “passagens” sobre as quais tanto trabalhou Walter Benjamin. A conclusão leva à consideração do “efeito de vertigem” como um princípio de composição (não chave de leitura) do conto, presente em contos que podemos situar como representativos da obra de Machado de Assis. Passagens paradoxais, lugares de trânsito dos enigmas que são transportados do imaginário social para a grande ficção, recorte de algo singular, mas que diz também de uma dimensão do coletivo de um contexto e de um tempo, via o “relâmpago” da forma conto, ao modo machadiano. / The present work consists in formulating, developing and examining the hypothesis in which Machado de Assis’ tale produces a “vertigo effect”, disturbing destabilization during the process of reading, cut with an intended linearity, and that, we sustain, is connected to the narrative structure. The “vertigo effect” is present in tales that, we can say, represent the strength of Machado’s style, not for any reason – they work as “passage operators”: the vertigo plays with the continuity/discontinuity, fascination/perturbation, simultaneities, the enigma in dealing with the limits as the reality, in fiction and in life. We find in the tales, in the proximity and in relation to vertigo effect, the fictional trait that interrogates the fundamental discontinuities, questions of the human condition – sex and death; the same that configured the inquiries which came to Freud throughout his production, through the psychoanalytical clinic. The subjective truth has an intimate relation with fiction, so that we chose to keep on following the proximity of the Machado’s narrative form with its vertigo, of Freud’s work with the “passages” in relation tothe unconsciousness (point in which the relation among the joke, obliquity and irony is highlighted) and of the elaboration by Lacan on the structure of the subject, with the topology of the “Moebius band”. At this point, the assessment of Ricardo Piglia on the form of the tale integrates the exam about the structure as well as the consideration of the term “passages”, so much developed by Walter Benjamin. The conclusion takes into consideration the “vertigo effect” as a composition principle (not as reading key) of the tale, present in tales that we can situate as representative of Machado de Assis’ work. Paradoxal passages, transitory places of the enigmas that are transported from the social imaginary to the great fiction, cut of something unique, but that also brings a dimension of the collectivity of a context and of a time, through the “bolt” of the form tale, in Machado’s way.

Walter Benjamin warned in 1940 of a certain inconspicuous threat to political thinking, not least of all to materialism, that takes progress as an historical norm. Implicit in this conception is what he describes as an empty continuum of time along which the prevailing tradition chronicles its own mythic development and drains everyday life of genuine historical experience. The myth of progressive history advances insidiously today in consumeristic and technocratic attempts at reconciling cultural imagery with organic nature. In this dissertation, I pursue the contradictions of such images as they crystallize around the natural history of twenty-first century commodity society, where promises of ecological remediation, sustainable urban development, and climate change mitigation have yet to introduce a true crisis of historical experience to the ongoing environmental crisis of capitalism. A more radical way of seeing the cultural representation of nature would, I argue, penetrate its mythic determination by market forces and bear witness to the natural-historical ruins and traces that constitute, in Benjamin's terms, a single "catastrophe" where others perceive historical continuity. I argue that Benjamin's critique of progress is instructive to interpreting those utopian dreams, ablaze in consumer life and technological fantasy, that recent decades of growing environmental concern have channeled into the recovery of an experience of the natural world. His dialectics of nature and alienated history confront the wish-image of organic abundance with the transience of its appropriated expression in the commodity-form. Drawing together this confrontation with a varied literature on collective memory, nature, and the city, I suggest that our poverty of experience is more than simply a technical, economic, or even ecological problem, but rather follows from the commodification of history itself. The goal of this work is to reflect upon the potentiality of communal politics that subsist not in rushing headlong into a progressive future but, as Benjamin urges, in reaching for the emergency brake on the runaway train of progress.

This dissertation explores the relationship of two of the most prominent women intellectuals of the twentieth century, Hannah Arendt and Susan Sontag. While they are not commonly considered to be related figures – Arendt is mainly recognized as a political thinker, Sontag is an icon of postwar popular culture – it has been anecdotally noted that they lived and worked in the same intellectual environment in postwar New York City, where their paths crossed a few times. However, a comprehensive systematic study of their relationship is missing. Starting from their Benjamin portraits of 1968 and 1978, I argue that Arendt’s and Sontag’s relationship is significant in terms of the German and US American tradition of literary criticism: Both women acted as transatlantic critics invested in cultural transfer between postwar US and Germany, and they employed similar styles of citation and editorial strategies to create and inscribe themselves into an authoritative literary tradition. With Arendt and Sontag, I discuss the critic’s task in terms of citational style and as a matter of taking care of literary traditions beyond national borders. As I demonstrate through comprehensive, in-depth archival analysis and close readings, Arendt and Sontag intervened with their Benjamin portraits in a heated debate about critical methods surrounding the editorial management of Benjamin’s estate and legacy through Theodor W. Adorno and Gershom Scholem in late 1960s Germany. Arendt’s portrait made Benjamin’s work available to an English-speaking audience for the first time and Sontag popularized his prominence in the US even further. Both stage Benjamin as a literary figure rather than a philosopher. Stylistically, they employ related strategies of citational mimicry to create an intimate connection between their voices and Benjamin’s, granting even unfamiliar readers access to Benjamin’s complex writing. Through constant dialogue with his work, their affective and affirmative mediation has significant editorial qualities. By preserving and promoting Benjamin as a critic in the US, Arendt and Sontag created a transatlantic tradition of literary criticism in which they inscribed themselves to gain critical authority in singular yet similar ways. Tracing the relationship between the portraits archivally, I argue that their similar citational creation of discursive authority results from Sontag’s comprehensive study of Arendt’s work and is thus an example of critical skill building through stylistic imitation. Rendering the hidden citational traces between the portraits transparent, I show how this line of influence ironically yields a lack of credit to Arendt on Sontag’s part. Like Arendt, Sontag reifies rather than breaks patriarchal citational chains. Illuminating what Arendt calls a “hidden tradition” – consisting in stylistically visible yet inexplicit commonalities – I draw on terminology gained from the current debate on critical method in Western literary studies to argue that the portraits afford a concept of criticism between such polemic poles as “surface” versus “depth” reading, “description” versus “interpretation” or “affirmation” versus “suspicion.” Characterizing this critical nuance with Arendt and Sontag as related critics, my study delineates a genealogy of a transatlantic mode of close reading with hermeneutic roots and a feminist twist.