anaSocio105: L5

Adorno – Mass Production and the culture industry

Gramsci and Hegemony:

Marx and Engels (1848): The idea that each age has always been the ideas of the
ruling class. The first industrial revolution happened in the UK in the 19 th Century. As
capitalist society grew in Europe, so did the ideas of capitalism saw you new entries
into our public and private lives – all because of Capitalism.

Gramsci’s Hegemony – a form of control exercised primarily through a society’s

superstructure (rather than through its economic base. Gramsci splits the
superstructure into two levels, the state (political society) and the civil society.
Hegemony is defined as “Ruled by consent”. This ideology is based off a capitalist
working class with a democratic way of dispersing power.

The question is: Why was there an uprising by the working classes during the 19 th
Century into the 20th Century?

Adorno in Hollywood:

- Leading figure of the Frankfurt school

- He was of Jewish Heritage and was exiled in the US in 1930’s and 1940’s

Theory: Western Culture Hegemony of which was influenced by the experience of

Nazi propaganda. Utilised Marxism.

Thus, industry is the mass-production of goods. Working classes are cultural dupes
blinded to the reality of their situation due to the constant propaganda from the
culture industry. Culture is essentially owned and ruled by the ruling classes.

Pseudo Individualism:

Authentic Culture = Serious and challenging – seeks to challenge the audience

Mass Produced culture = Standardised, predictable and with no originality

Summary:

And

Mass Produced Culture – Inverse of authentic culturerde