Benjamin's Blind Spot: Walter Benjamin and the Premature Death of Aura

Rating:
Summary: An exceptional book
Review: It's been months since I've been this excited about a book that's scholarly in nature. Benjamin's Blind Spot is two books in one: a collection of essays by various authors who consider Benjamin's treatment of aura; and reproductions of the Manual of Lost Ideas, an odd compendium of art, text, and objects that was left on the doorstep of the Institute of Cultural Inquiry in the 50s.

The critical essays are brief and diverse, and their bibliographies offer useful suggestions for further reading. The impressive use of typography, editing and design made me think about aura as I read the book. And Arturo Ott's descriptions of the contents of the Manual are eerie and provocative. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Walter Benjamin.