On the Readability of Works and the Task of the Reader. Notes on Reading from Walter Benjamin

Abstract

This essay aims to discuss the ways in which in the humanities we tend to historically understand the cultural forms from the past. Taking Walter Benjamin's ideas on “life of works” as a reference, it is suggested that works, ideas, words or images from the past carry an immanent historicity, which is independent of its capture by empirical subjects. The attribution of own life to the works gives rise to a concept of readability that incorporates anachronism as an irreducible dimension in our reading operations. From this, objectivity is questioned as a criterion for a fair reading and a possible kairological theory of reading and criticism of texts from the past is suggested.