Article:

Benjamin und Deleuze: Ansätze für eine kritische Geschichtswissenschaft in Filmbildern

The article combines Walter Benjamin's concept of the dialectical image with Gilles Deleuze's concept of the time-image to approach film as an instrument of historical research. The argument is developed through a discussion of Alexander Kluge's film "Die Patriotin (the patriot)" and Claude Lanzmann's film "Shoah". Film considered as historical research distinguish itself by allocation of the research process inside the film (and film production) from other (useful) approaches to film and history like the use of film as historical source, the history of film or film used as a medium of dissemination of historical insights. Film considered as historical research therefore identifies the production of historical knowledge through film as specific to the medium. This implies a confrontation with notions of history as something given that waits for being discovered. Instead it calls for a consideration of history as a specific form of appropriation of the present (material). The appropriation of Deleuze's concept of the time-image from a perspective of critical theory helps to grasp the specific form of production of knowledge that film provides. It results in a productive approach to push forward a critical theory and praxis of history.