“What Do the Frankfurt School Contribute to Our Understanding of Popular Culture?”

The independent institute capital of Kentucky give lessons was founded by Jewish intellectuals, Theodor Adorno, pocket Horkheimer and Herbert Macuse within a Nazi em business leader Germany in 1923. After relocating to various split of America, gaining exposure from Los Angeles and Hollywood lifestyle, the initiate day returned. They took a great concern in the compendium of common civilization and the market-gardening fabrication that had affected Germany in the 1940s. Although these transposes reshaped a race over 70 years ago, capital of Kentucky civilizes interpretation of public agri socialisation still mends to our own taking into custody at once.The question is why, Adorno in particular, criticised this new doings in Germanys confederation. The Enlightenment was introduced, which evince individualism instead of tradition yet ultimately led the way to newfangled capitalism and the culture perseverance. capital of Kentucky instill perspective is an obvi ous variant of Marxism. (Strinati, 2004) disdain disagreeing with the Enlightenment, Adorno and Frankfurt School agreed on the Marxist theory. According to Dominic Strinati, to understand Frankfurts views the school can be seen as trying to fill in a part of the picture of capitalism Marx did non deal with. (2004, 48) This provides a reexamination of touristed culture which Marx did non chin-wagging on, which we lead acknowledge and see how ut near that it is understood by society at present. Interestingly, the school focuses on the culture, not the economy or political aspects of society. However Adorno has also been criticised for his unreadable and inaccurate analysis of the topic, which ordain also be discussed and questioned upon. To begin, we will establish how capitalism is the foundations of the development of hot culture. capitalist economy is the political and economic system which is controlled by the individual, and not by state.Frankfurt School considered Capitalism as their opposition due to their left field beliefs. Though it is noticeable that the Frankfurt School sweard Capitalism was more stable than what it sincerely is. Adorno fails to mention that capitalism also has its faults and best-selling(predicate) culture was not create on this system alone. Despite this, it certainly aided it effectively. Adorno decl bes that the puzzle outing course evaluate this system unforced is because businesses, advertisers and new(prenominal) consumers recognise the crop that is cosmos retailed more appealing.It doesnt take much effort from the consumer to warp to these influences and purchase the product. This makes them feel better virtually themselves because they now own said product and argon part of the majority that does. He introduces the term commodity fetishism which is the al-Qaida of how cultural forms such(prenominal) as prevalent unison can secure the chronic economic, political and ideological domination of capi talism. (Strinati, 2004) He shows us that consumers in the capitalist society value money more than appreciating what was purchased.This defines and dominates societal relations (Strinati, 2004, 50) The resembling is true today many of us would much take to spend a colossal derive of money on an well(p)spring-known s elevator car commodity, say a new car or handbag, than an affordable and sensible priced one. This presents ourselves to others as a much wealthier individual, which essentially makes us feel better about ourselves. Adorno quotes this well the real secret of success is the unspotted reflection of what one pays in the merchandise for the product. (Strinati, 2004, 49) This superficial attitude expressed most of us can relate to today because we all live in a capitalist society and have see this need for a certain commodity. and so Frankfurt School has successfully helped us be aware of the root of pop culture. According to the Frankfurt school, the culture fabrication reflects the consolidation of commodity fetishism. (Strinati, 2004, 54) When the public are satisfied, capitalism will continue to work and therefore other political systems will be unsuccessful.Its only when a system does not work does the plug culture look for new mightiness. With the informality and effectiveness of the Culture Industry, the Working phratry will remain content consuming. It is so effective in doing this that the work programme is no longer likely to baby-sit a threat to the stability and continuity of capitalism. (Strinati, 2004, 55) The diligence successfully moulds and alters the tastes of the masses to fit the diligences need. However, the Frankfurt School do not consider that the depression of popular culture has any bag potential at this time.Instead, Adorno found that popular culture was imposed on the people, and warned that they should only welcome it insofar as they do not get imposed. (Strinati, 2004, 55) Of course, this wor king class at the time was not handout to take notice of the schools negative response when they find something so welcoming and appealing. Perhaps Frankfurt did not appreciate how diverse and hybrid popular culture was. One way of face at this would be to see Adornos criticism as a inform to us about the effects of the virile culture industry, something the masses of 1940s would not understand.We are able to understand and relate to this because we all know from experience of this beguile affect that popular culture has on our lives. The schools theory discusses that by capitalism and the culture industry working together produces false necessitate for the masses, which representation people can be reconcile to capitalism, guaranteeing its stability and continuity. (Strinati, 2004, 52) In the pursuit of profit, the industry will be ruthless to progress consumerism to make consumers buy things they essentially do not need.These goods are advertised so effectively to the m ass culture, they are tricked to believe that they genuinely need it. Think of the cause from earlier with the expensive car or handbag. These false needs are created and uphold through advertisements in magazines, television, the media and from other consumers opinions. wherefore the consumer purchases the item increasing the success of the industry and fulfilling the false need. The customer buys what they think they need, as yet remain unsatisfied and wants more. Strinati puts it very well The customer is not king, as the culture industry would have us to believe, nevertheless its object. This is a disturbing truth that needs to be dealt with, save it appears that nobody is daunted by it, so why should it be changed? The school successfully makes it clear to us how this lifestyle is influencing us so powerfully. We are aware of this feeling of false needs from time to time, yet we share the same attitude as the society in the 20th century and continue in bad habit. In par ticular, the school criticises the culture industrys popular medication, accusatory it of two processes standardisation and pseudo-individualisation.The customer is being fooled through the use of standardisation popular songs are becoming more same (Strinati, 2004, 58) Traditional music at such as Beethoven or Mozart requires an attentive comprehend and expression of the imagination to consider every detail that has been put into the tuneful piece. Meanwhile, popular music, as described by Storey operates in a sort of blurred dialectic to consume it demands default and distraction (2009) which means that it requires little vigilance which suits perfectly for customers with busy lives, who after a stressful day prefer to list to something which requires less concentration.Popular music is high-minded here and satisfies the craving. The pseudo-individualisation element of the song disguises it make it appear more unique and distinctive, very much by adding a catchy l et out or beat. Frankfurt School makes us aware of this process, which still is regular in many pop songs today. Adorno compares the characteristics of both music styles and criticises the simplicity of the one dimension popular music. Here it is felt that he moldinessiness be condemned for criticising with a lack of assure or experience to prove his theory.This makes it super difficult for us to relate to the school because they fail to relate with us. On the other hand, it could be argued that he was writing in 1941, a time were popular music would be very different to listen to. The music industry has changed drastically in the past 70 years and the fundamental of pop has been reshaped too. It has to be acknowledged that disrespect Adornos criticisms of the culture industrys popular music, it indisputably proves to us that if we reflect on the music we listen to today we will see evidence of standardisation and pseudo-individualisation used.To conclude, it must be asked why the mass culture both then and now continues to gives into the power of capitalism and the culture industry. Adornos thought process is that most capitalist societies live limited, wiped out(p) and unhappy lives (Strinati, 2004, 61) and the reason for this is the submission from the power of commodity fetishism, escape from the real valet de chambre and tragically, laziness. Strinati presses that popular culture does not inevitably hide reality from people but that its realised how difficult it is to change the world from this mindset so it becomes a matter of acceptance.It is surely killing the need that might let us cipher a better world. (Storey, 2009) The Frankfurt brings to us an interesting outlook of how we could change our lives and disallow the power of capitalism and the culture industry from absolute control. Bibliography Strinati, Dominic (2004) An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture London Routedge Storey, John (2009) Cultural opening and Popular Cultur e An Introduction Harlow, England