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

The independent institute capital of Kentucky rail was tacked by Judaic intellectuals, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer and Herbert Macuse within a Nazi empowered Germany in 1923. after relocating to various resolves of America, gaining exposure from Los Angeles and Hollywood life style, the school returned. They took a nifty concern in the analysis of habitual ending and the Culture fabrication that had affected Germany in the 1940s. Although these changes reshaped a nation over 70 historic period ago, capital of Kentucky instructs interpretation of commonplace tillage tranquil alludes to our own studying to solar day.The question is why, Adorno in particular, criticised this new behaviour in Germanys confederation. The Enlightenment was introduced, which expressed individualism instead of tradition scarcely ultimately led the way to modern capitalism and the destination perseverance. Frankfurt give instruction perspective is an obvious variant of Marxism. (Stri nati, 2004) Despite 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 realizen as trying to fill in a part of the picture of capitalism Marx did not deal with. (2004, 48) This provides a reappraisal of touristy culture which Marx did not comment on, which we will bonk and see how far that it is understood by society today. Interestingly, the school focuses on the culture, not the economy or political aspects of society. However Adorno has in any case been criticised for his ill-defined and inaccurate analysis of the topic, which will also be discussed and questioned upon. To begin, we will dedicate how Capitalism is the foundations of the development of pour downular culture. Capitalism is the political and economic ashes which is controlled by the individual, and not by state.Frankfurt School considered Capitalism as their opposition due to their left- wing beliefs. Though it is noticeable that the Frankfurt School believed Capitalism was more stable than what it really is. Adorno fails to mention that capitalism also has its faults and commonplace culture was not formed on this arrangement alone. Despite this, it certainly aided it effectively. Adorno declargons that the workings class accept this governing body unforced is because businesses, advertisers and other consumers make the product that is being retailed more appealing.It doesnt take much effort from the consumer to submit to these influences and purchase the product. This makes them feel breach about themselves because they now own said product and are part of the majority that does. He introduces the term commodity fetishism which is the basis of how ethnic forms such as popular music can secure the keep economic, political and ideological domination of capitalism. (Strinati, 2004) He shows us that consumers in the capitalistic society value money more than a ppreciating what was purchased.This defines and dominates social relations (Strinati, 2004, 50) The uniform is true today many of us would much prefer to overstep a colossal amount of money on an well-known notice commodity, say a new car or handbag, than an affordable and advised priced one. This presents ourselves to others as a much wealthier individual, which essentially makes us feel s a lot about ourselves. Adorno quotes this well the real secret of success is the mere saying of what one pays in the market for the product. (Strinati, 2004, 49) This superficial attitude expressed just about of us can relate to today because we all live in a capitalist society and have experienced this need for a certain commodity. T here(predicate)fore Frankfurt School has successfully helped us be aware of the root of popular culture. According to the Frankfurt school, the culture perseverance reflects the consolidation of commodity fetishism. (Strinati, 2004, 54) When the public are satisfied, capitalism will lodge to work and therefore other political systems will be unsuccessful.Its only when a system does not work does the mass culture look for new power. With the simplicity and effectiveness of the Culture Industry, the Working figure will stick content consuming. It is so effective in doing this that the working class is no longer likely to pose a panic to the stability and continuity of capitalism. (Strinati, 2004, 55) The sedulousness successfully moulds and alters the tastes of the masses to suit the industrys involve. However, the Frankfurt School do not consider that the notion of popular culture has any radical potential at this time.Instead, Adorno found that popular culture was imposed on the people, and warned that they should only welcome it yet as they do not get imposed. (Strinati, 2004, 55) Of course, this working class at the time was not going 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. champion way of looking at this would be to see Adornos literary criticism as a warning to us about the effects of the tendinous 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 captivating affect that popular culture has on our lives. The schools theory discusses that by capitalism and the culture industry working together produces false needs for the masses, which federal agency people can be reconciled to capitalism, guaranteeing its stability and continuity. (Strinati, 2004, 52) In the spare-time activity of profit, the industry will be ruthless to promote consumerism to make consumers demoralize things they essentially do not need.These goods are advertised so effectively to the mass culture, they are tricked to believe that they genuinely need it. Think of the use from e arlier with the expensive car or handbag. These false needs are created and sustained through advertisements in magazines, television, the media and from other consumers opinions. Therefore the consumer purchases the item change magnitude the success of the industry and fulfilling the false need. The customer buys what they think they need, however remain unsatisfied and wants more. Strinati puts it very well The customer is not king, as the culture industry would have us to believe, and its object. This is a disturbing fairness that needs to be dealt with, but it appears that nobody is bothered 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 particular, the school criticises the culture industrys popular music, accusing it of ii processe s standardisation and pseudo-individualisation.The customer is being fooled through the use of standardisation popular songs are becoming more alike (Strinati, 2004, 58) Traditional music at such as Beethoven or Mozart requires an attentive listen and case of the imagination to hear every detail that has been put into the musical piece. Meanwhile, popular music, as described by Storey operates in a miscellany of blurred dialectic to consume it demands inattention and distraction (2009) which means that it requires petite attention which suits perfectly for customers with busy lives, who after a stressful day prefer to listen to something which requires less concentration.Popular music is ideal here and satisfies the craving. The pseudo-individualisation element of the song disguises it making it appear more unique and distinctive, often by adding a catchy chorus or beat. Frankfurt School makes us aware of this process, which still is regular in many pop songs today. Adorno comp ares the characteristics of both music styles and criticises the simplicity of the one dimension popular music. hither it is felt that he must be condemned for criticising with a lack of certainty or experience to prove his theory.This makes it extremely 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 sound of pop has been reshaped too. It has to be adjudge that despite 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 idea is that most capital ist societies live limited, impoverished and unhappy lives (Strinati, 2004, 61) and the terra firma for this is the submission from the power of commodity fetishism, escape from the real world and tragically, laziness. Strinati presses that popular culture does not necessarily 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 desire that might permit us imagine a better world. (Storey, 2009) The Frankfurt brings to us an kindle outlook of how we could change our lives and prevent 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) pagan Theory and Popular Culture An Introduction Harlow, England