The culture industry

In this work, Adorno and Horkheimer critique the production of cultural content in capitalist societies, arguing that mass-produced entertainment aims to appeal to vast audiences and thereby maintains social control.

They contend that the culture industry creates 'false needs' that can only be satisfied by the products of capitalism, undermining true psychological needs such as freedom, creativity, and genuine happiness.

The authors highlight how this system integrates consumers from above, undermining individual imagination and critical thinking, and how it perpetuates a hierarchical subjection that benefits the capitalist system.