A Counterweight for Barbarism. Benjamin in Colombia

Abstract

Without a doubt, the study of Walter Benjamin ?s work in different latitudes has its basis in the inherent actuality of his thought. That is why, this paper pretends to analyze different approaches to Benjamin ?s work made in Colombia, which are sustained in three fundamental aspects: the need of updating Colombian cultural sphere, the importance of renewing Philosophy pro-grams, and the awareness of the fact that the development of Colombian history and its condition as a nation has been marked by a physical and cultural violent past that has not been studied and demands to be analyzed in the present. These main aspects determine and articulate this paper that has been divided into four interdependent notes. The first one refers to the noteworthy labor of Colombian thinker Rafael Gutierrez Girardot. The second focuses in Colombia ?s academic sphere, mainly in Philosophy studies, which major scenery has been National University of Colombia, where the study of Benjamin ?s thought has been promoted for more than three decades. The third note refers to El Pasajero Benjamin a novel written by Colombian writer Ricardo Cano Gaviria, whose pursuit of new ways and themes in literature led him to the study of Benjamin ?s life and work. Finally, the fourth note tackles Doris Salcedo ?s artistic discourse, in which some benjaminian ideas are developed.