Walter Benjamin interprets Baudelaire's concept of modernism as a complex interplay between classical antiquity and contemporary urban life, particularly in Paris. He views modernism as a period characterized by the tension between the enduring elements of classical art and the transient, modern themes. Benjamin emphasizes the role of the hero in modernism, who embodies both strength and vulnerability, often leading to tragic outcomes.
Decay and alienation are central themes in Benjamin's analysis. He notes how modernism, with its focus on the transient and the ephemeral, often leads to a sense of loss and melancholy. The hero in modernism is often alienated from society, struggling with the rapid changes and the dehumanizing effects of the urban environment.
The commodity culture of the time is also a significant factor in Benjamin's interpretation. He argues that the modern hero is intertwined with the commodity, as both are subject to the market's whims. The flâneur, for instance, is depicted as being both a consumer and a spectacle, embodying the alienation and the intoxication of the commodity culture. Benjamin's analysis suggests that modernism, while celebrating the hero, also highlights the destructive and dehumanizing aspects of the modern urban experience.