THE

FRANKFURT
SCHOOL
And Critical Theory
The Frankfurt School

Also known as:

Institute of Social Research
(Institut fr
Sozialforschung)
 What is The Frankfurt
School?
It is a social and political philosophical
movement of thought.

Located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

It is the original source of what is known

asCritical Theory.

The Institute was founded [] with the aim of

developing Marxist studies in Germany.
(Internet Enciclopedia of Philosophy)
Most prominent figures of
the IST generation of
Critical Theorists
Max Horkheimer (1895-1973)
Theodor Adorno(1903-1969)
Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979)
Walter Benjamin (1892-1940)
Friedrich Pollock (1894-1970)
Leo Lowenthal (1900-1993)
Eric Fromm (1900-1980).
 Critical Theory
seeks "to liberate human beings from the
circumstances that enslave them.
(Horkheimer 1982: 244)
Interprets Marxist philosophy
Reinterprets Marxist central economic and
political notions such as:
a. Commodification
b. Reification
c. Fetishization
d. Critique of mass culture. (Internet Enciclopedia of
Philosophy)
 What is Critical Theory?
Critical theory is a social theory oriented toward
critiquing and changingsocietyas a whole, in
contrast to traditional theory oriented only to
understanding or explaining it.(Wikipedia)
A primary broad distinction that Horkheimer drew
was that of the difference in method between social
theories, scientific theories and critical social
theories. (Internet Enciclopedia of Philosophy)
While the first two categories have been treated as
instances of traditional theories, the latter connoted
the methodology the Frankfurt School adopted.
 Culture Industry
The termculture industrywas coined by
Theodor AdornoandMax Horkheimer

they proposed thatpopular cultureis akin

to a factory producing standardized cultural
goods
films,radioprogrammes,magazines, etc.
that are used to manipulatemass
societyinto passivity (Wikipedia)
 The aims of the culture industry areas in every
industryeconomic in nature. All endeavors become
focused on economic success.

Authentic culture, however, is not goal-oriented, but is

an end in itself.

Authentic culture fosters the capacity of human

imagination by presenting suggestions and
possibilities, but in a different way than the culture
industry does, since it leaves room for independent
thought.

Authentic culture does not become channeled into

regurgitating reality, but goes levels beyond such.

Authentic culture is unique and cannot be forced into

any pre-formed schemas.(Wikipedia)
 Example of Authentic
culture
Un Chien Andalou

A silent surrealistshort film,produced by

the SpanishdirectorLuis Buuel&
artistSalvador Dal.

Soundtrack of the movie: Richard Wagner's

"Liebestod" from his operaTristan und
Isolde
Example of `Industry` Culture

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Romantic comedy from 2003

Full of stereotypes
Pre-digested
 The Theory of Commodity
Fetishism
Adornos argument is that money the
price of commodities or goods, including a
ticket to a concert- defines and dominates
social relations in capitalist societies.
(Strinati 2004: 50)

According to Strinati, Adornos attempt to

use the idea of the culture industry to
understand modern popular culture comes
from Marxs ideas on commodities in
general. (Strinati, 2004: 50)
 Standardized, commercial music:
Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

High-culture, non-commercial music:

INUKSUIT by American composer, Pulitzer
prize winner, John Luther Adams
 Bibliography
http://www.iep.utm.edu/frankfur/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_theo
ry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_indu
stry

Strinati D, An Introduction to Theories of

Popular Culture, 2004, London.