In 1926: living at the edge of time - Monoskop

ENGINEERS
The first page of Walter Benjamin's book Einbahnstra{5e (One- Way
Street) presents the reader with an enigmatic dedication: "This street is
called / Asja Lacis Street / after her who / as an engineer / bulldozed it
through the author." This is of course a variation on the classical statement
"Dedicated to her/him who inspired the author," a variation specifically
adapted to the nonmetaphorical meaning of Benjamin's metaphorical
title. Asja Lacis appears as a street-laying engineer because
Benjamin wants to thank her for having inspired the book which he
entitles Einbahnstra{5e. Nevertheless, the violence inherent in the image
of cutting the way for a street is a puzzling substitute for the rather
ethereal influence of intellectual and artistic inspiration. The act of an
engineer who manipulates an engine or a space does not seem commensurate
with the free-and often loving-acceptance of such inspiration
on the part of the artist. An implicit pun in Benjamin's wording, however,
makes such a violent connotation plausible. Although the text says
that Asja Lacis cut the street through the author ("im Autor"), the
subtraction of just one letter ("im Auto") makes a car-emblem of the
engineer's skill-the vehicle for the breakthrough. [see Automobiles]
This reading also explains Benjamin's choice for the book title. He wishes
to emphasize that, after initial resistance and hesitation (which made a
certain amount of violence unavoidable), his commitment to the form of
thinking which Asja Lacis has inspired in him is now unconditional. It
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