2. Extracted from www.wikipedia.com
The essay is concerned with the production of cultural content in capitalist societies. It critiques the
supply-driven nature of cultural economies as well as the apparently inferior products of the
system. Horkheimer and Adorno argue that mass-produced entertainment aims, by its very nature,
to appeal to vast audiences and therefore both the intellectual stimulation of high art and the basic
release of low art. The essay does not suggest that all products of this system are inherently
inferior, simply that they have replaced other forms of entertainment without properly fulfilling the
important roles played by the now defunct sources of culture.
Horkheimer and Adorno make consistent comparisons between Fascist Germany and the American
film industry. They highlight the presence of mass-produced culture, created and disseminated by
exclusive institutions and consumed by a passive, homogenised audience in both systems. This
illustrates the logic of domination in post-enlightenment modern society, by monopoly capitalism
or the nation state. Horkheimer and Adorno draw attention to the problems associated with a
system that ‘integrates its consumers from above’, arguing that in attempting to realise
enlightenment values of reason and order, the wholistic power of the individual is undermined.
3. Adele Performance - Someone Like You
Adele is a perfect example of someone that goes
against the theory. She holds her own individuality and
unique style and is someone that manages to get
herself out to a mass audience by using her real talent
(an amazing voice) rather than hide behind a form of
fakeness. Adele writes her own songs on event that
have happened in her life, this shows how unique she is
and how unlike other artists/band she doesn't get
everything wrote for her to appeal to a certain
audience. Adele was once told she needed to loose
weight to be successful and this made her come back
and argue that she refuses too and therefore portrays
her real passion for the music. Adele hardly has any
form of merchandising or advertisement and therefore
the cultural industry does not exist. Adele's latest
album ‘21’ was a great success and managed to earn 3
number 1’s including the songs; Someone like you, Set
fire to the rain and Rolling in the deep.
