Walter Benjamin's 'The Fall of Herculaneum and Pompeii', read by Dr Vassiliki Kolocotroni.

Recorded at the Antonine Wall Exhibition in the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum.

Amy Bromley and Katy Hastie (Producers)
Niall Morris (Sound Editor)
Kyle Steward (Theme Music Composition)

Episode 1 The Fall Of Herculaneum And Pompeii With Dr Vassiliki Kolocotroni

Walter Benjamin's 'The Rental Barracks', read by Dr Ernest Schonfield

Recorded in a tenement close in Glasgow

Episode 2 The Rental Barracks With Dr Ernest Schonfield

Walter Benjamin's 'Demonic Berlin', read by Louise Welsh

Recorded in The Scotia Bar, Glasgow

Episode 3 Demonic Berlin With Louise Welsh

Walter Benjamin's 'Kaspar Hauser', read by Dr Cara Berger

Recorded at the Goethe Institut, Glasgow

Episode 4 Kaspar Hauser With Dr Cara Berger

Walter Benjamin's 'The Bastille: The French State Prison', read by Dr Sarah Armstrong

Recorded in the Clyde Tunnel Walkway

Episode 5 The Bastille With Dr Sarah Armstrong

Walter Benjamin's 'Sketched in Mobile Dust: A Novella', read by Dr John Coyle
Recorded at the Lansdowne Church/Webster's theatre, Great Western Road

Episode 7 Sketched In Mobile Dust With Dr John Coyle

Walter Benjamin's 'True Dog Stories', read by Dr Jane Goldman

Recorded at Glasgow Necropolis

Episode 6 True Dog Stories With Dr Jane Goldman

Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) was a literary critic, essayist, translator and philosopher. Despite his tragic demise fleeing Nazi-occupied France, his renowned critical essays (including 'The Storyteller') changed forever the way we discuss history and the impact of technology and capitalism on culture. 

Perhaps less well known are his early radio shows which were aimed at children before they gained a larger public following. Verso’s recent publication of Benjamin’s radio scripts ('Radio Benjamin' ed. Lecia Rosenthal, 2014 <http://www.versobooks.com/books/1720-radio-benjamin>) brings together for the first time in English rare pieces from 1927-33. However, due to their original live transmission no audio of Benjamin reading his work exists.

Supported by the Goethe Institut and the University of Glasgow these seven 23 minute experimental radio documentaries reanimate Benjamin’s scripts by asking expert speakers to read and discuss them in special locations around, over and under Glasgow accompanied by sound compositions from sonic artists Niall Morris and Kyle Stewart.

Recording took place March 17th-19th 2015 and was broadcast on CCA based art radio station Radiophrenia (<http://radiophrenia.scot/>) across Glasgow on 87.9fm, 13th – 19th April, 2015. In 2020, faced with worldwide pandemic and lockdown we’ve decided to replay these shows again, finding anew constellations, consolations and dialectical images haunting us from the past.

Feel free to share with anyone else interested in radio, Benjamin, Glasgow, sonic art or psychogeography. 

We have no idea what happens when you take 90 yr old essays and apply them to different people in a different place but we're interested in finding out what resonates or breaks apart in the process.

Thanks for drifting our way,
Katy Hastie and Amy Bromley (producers)

as the man says - 'knowledge exists only in lightning flashes.The text is the thunder rolling long afterwards'. 

A good general introduction to Benjamin and the special nature of these scripts can be found by listening to BBC Radio 4's 'The Benjamin Broadcasts' <http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b044b3lj>

Radio Benjamin - Glasgow Constellations

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