Podcast for Social Research, Episode 69: The Worst of Times? The Frankfurt School and Contemporary Culture
Aug 11, 2023
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In this episode, guests Adam Shatz and Kate Wagner discuss the uses of critical theory in understanding contemporary culture. They explore topics such as social media's impact on discourse, the influence of the Frankfurt School on cultural criticism, the separation of architecture from building, and the role of cultural criticism in representing working class struggles.
The Frankfurt School's critique of mass culture remains relevant in contemporary society, as it examines the impact of social media on art dissemination and reception.
Music, according to Adorno, offers a direct and powerful experience that allows for a deeper understanding of ideology beyond immediate conditions.
Labor movements in cultural media face challenges in gaining visibility, and there is a need to separate aesthetic judgments from reactionary preservationism in architecture.
Deep dives
Generational perspectives on the relevance of Adorno and the Frankfurt School
The speakers explore how the ideas from the Frankfurt School, such as the critique of mass culture, still hold significance in contemporary society. They highlight the commodification of cultural commentary and the impact of social media on the dissemination and reception of art and criticism. The speakers also emphasize the need to critically engage with and challenge the dominant narratives and structures of cultural production. The episode delves into the tension between autonomy and absorption in art, the effects of capitalism on cultural spheres, and the rise of trolling and shaming in online platforms. They also touch on the role of cultural criticism in shaping public discourse and the potential for art to resist the dominant systems. The podcast underscores the continued relevance of critical theory in understanding and analyzing contemporary cultural phenomena.
The Changing Nature of Mass Culture and Avant-Garde
The podcast discusses the changing structural conditions of mass culture and the diminished possibility for a critical avant-garde.
The Importance of Music as a Central Form
The podcast explores the significance of music in Adorno's work and its capacity to provide a direct and visceral experience, allowing for a look beyond immediate ideological conditions.
Labor Organizing and Its Reflections in Cultural Media
The podcast highlights the significance of labor movements and their portrayal in cultural media, including the challenges they face in gaining visibility and recognition as well as the dynamics between work and creativity.
The Tension Between Preservationist and Development Approaches in Architecture
The podcast delves into the tension between preservationist impulses and developmental approaches in architecture, discussing the importance of understanding the economic factors shaping architectural design choices and the need to divorce aesthetic judgments from reactionary preservationism.
In episode 69 of the Podcast for Social Research, live-recorded (like episodes 67 and 68) at BISR’s recent symposium Frankfurt School and the Now, BISR faculty Ajay Singh Chaudhary, Isi Litke, and Nathan Shields and guests Adam Shatz and Kate Wagner ask about the uses of critical theory for thinking about contemporary culture and cultural production, from Twitter to architecture to media mega-conglomerates like Disney. How does social media structure and even produce certain kinds of discourse (for example, YIMBY vs. NIMBY)? How can Theodor Adorno help us navigate the poles of poptimism and elitism? Why do we feel driven to “stick up” for major movie studios and franchises, and why does doing so feel and code as “progressive”? How can we think about and conduct cultural criticism today? Why are culture and cultural analysis vital to the formation of political consciousness? Can we imagine a culture that’s expressive and productive of freedom, rather than domination?
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