Urban Perspectives: Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«

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Urban Perspectives : Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«. / Reeh, Henrik.

In: Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica, Vol. XXIX, No. 3, 2016, 2016, p. 591-604.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Reeh, H 2016, 'Urban Perspectives: Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«', Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica, vol. XXIX, no. 3, 2016, pp. 591-604. https://doi.org/10.1414/85114

APA

Reeh, H. (2016). Urban Perspectives: Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«. Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica, XXIX(3, 2016), 591-604. https://doi.org/10.1414/85114

Vancouver

Reeh H. Urban Perspectives: Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«. Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica. 2016;XXIX(3, 2016):591-604. https://doi.org/10.1414/85114

Author

Reeh, Henrik. / Urban Perspectives : Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«. In: Iride: Filosofia e discussione pubblica. 2016 ; Vol. XXIX, No. 3, 2016. pp. 591-604.

Bibtex

@article{b54ad3e68b0448e78317f3d28d0f49e6,
title = "Urban Perspectives: Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«",
abstract = "Siegfried Kracauer{\textquoteright}s seminal essay “Das Ornament der Masse” of 1927 is widely known for its analysis of the so-called Tiller Girls as an expression of Taylorism in modern culture. But “Das Ornament der Masse” is first of all a program for the critical intellectual in the age of mass culture. Kracauer{\textquoteright}s essay may even provide a conceptual basis for critical studies of modern urbanity. Yet one has to establish a clear distinction between culture industry (e.g. the Tiller Girls) and urban culture. In everyday life as well as in Kracauer{\textquoteright}s writings about it, the sphere of city culture may transcend capitalist Ratio and enter the domain of utopian fantasy. Far from automatically reproducing the logic of capital, the ornaments of the city provide occasions for cultural and social change. This is what Kracauer is hinting at when he makes improvisation the prime criterion of urban quality.",
keywords = "Faculty of Humanities, Siegfried Kracauer, Urban culture, Cultural theory, Frankfurt School, Frankfurter Zeitung, Cultural industry, improvisation",
author = "Henrik Reeh",
year = "2016",
doi = "10.1414/85114",
language = "English",
volume = "XXIX",
pages = "591--604",
journal = "Iride",
issn = "1122-7893",
publisher = "Societa Editrice IlMulino",
number = "3, 2016",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Urban Perspectives

T2 - Siegfried Kracauer and »Das Ornament der Masse«

AU - Reeh, Henrik

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Siegfried Kracauer’s seminal essay “Das Ornament der Masse” of 1927 is widely known for its analysis of the so-called Tiller Girls as an expression of Taylorism in modern culture. But “Das Ornament der Masse” is first of all a program for the critical intellectual in the age of mass culture. Kracauer’s essay may even provide a conceptual basis for critical studies of modern urbanity. Yet one has to establish a clear distinction between culture industry (e.g. the Tiller Girls) and urban culture. In everyday life as well as in Kracauer’s writings about it, the sphere of city culture may transcend capitalist Ratio and enter the domain of utopian fantasy. Far from automatically reproducing the logic of capital, the ornaments of the city provide occasions for cultural and social change. This is what Kracauer is hinting at when he makes improvisation the prime criterion of urban quality.

AB - Siegfried Kracauer’s seminal essay “Das Ornament der Masse” of 1927 is widely known for its analysis of the so-called Tiller Girls as an expression of Taylorism in modern culture. But “Das Ornament der Masse” is first of all a program for the critical intellectual in the age of mass culture. Kracauer’s essay may even provide a conceptual basis for critical studies of modern urbanity. Yet one has to establish a clear distinction between culture industry (e.g. the Tiller Girls) and urban culture. In everyday life as well as in Kracauer’s writings about it, the sphere of city culture may transcend capitalist Ratio and enter the domain of utopian fantasy. Far from automatically reproducing the logic of capital, the ornaments of the city provide occasions for cultural and social change. This is what Kracauer is hinting at when he makes improvisation the prime criterion of urban quality.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - Siegfried Kracauer

KW - Urban culture

KW - Cultural theory

KW - Frankfurt School

KW - Frankfurter Zeitung

KW - Cultural industry

KW - improvisation

U2 - 10.1414/85114

DO - 10.1414/85114

M3 - Journal article

VL - XXIX

SP - 591

EP - 604

JO - Iride

JF - Iride

SN - 1122-7893

IS - 3, 2016

ER -

ID: 117198959