The Frankfurt SchoolThe Frankfurt School

Adorno and pop musicAdorno and pop music

Theories of audienceTheories of audience

The Frankfurt SchoolThe Frankfurt School Who were they – a group of Jewish academics Who were they – a group of Jewish academics

who fled Hitler’s Germany to Americawho fled Hitler’s Germany to America

They had seen the terrifying effects of Nazi They had seen the terrifying effects of Nazi propagandapropaganda

But were also disgusted by the emptiness of But were also disgusted by the emptiness of American cultureAmerican culture

What were the Frankfurt School What were the Frankfurt School afraid of?afraid of?

Frankfurt school: the mass Frankfurt school: the mass audienceaudience

Made a distinction between art and popular Made a distinction between art and popular culture:culture:

• Popular culture is just businessPopular culture is just business• Art retains critical possibilitiesArt retains critical possibilities

Function of popular culture:Function of popular culture:• To prevent independent thoughtTo prevent independent thought• To distract the working classes from the reality To distract the working classes from the reality

of oppressionof oppression

What would the Frankfurt School What would the Frankfurt School say about popular music?say about popular music?

Audiences enjoy them because they are not Audiences enjoy them because they are not offered anything better – years of being offered anything better – years of being subjected to this form of entertainment has subjected to this form of entertainment has dulled the critical faculties of the mass audiencedulled the critical faculties of the mass audience

Programmes such as pop idol distract the Programmes such as pop idol distract the working class mass audience from the realities working class mass audience from the realities of oppression and dupe them into thinking that of oppression and dupe them into thinking that they too can gain material successthey too can gain material success

Some quotes:Some quotes:

“…“….. They (fans of popular music) are childish; their .. They (fans of popular music) are childish; their primitivism is not that of the underdeveloped but that primitivism is not that of the underdeveloped but that of the forcibly of the forcibly retardedretarded.”.”

from from On Popular MusicOn Popular Music, Theodor Adorno, 1941, Theodor Adorno, 1941

Cultural critic Matthew Arnold (1869) also saw differences between what he termed Cultural critic Matthew Arnold (1869) also saw differences between what he termed ‘low’ and ‘high’ culture‘low’ and ‘high’ culture

““The working class…raw and half developed” The working class…raw and half developed” in contrast to in contrast to

middle class high culture that ismiddle class high culture that is “the best that has been thought “the best that has been thought and said in the world”and said in the world”

from Matthew Arnold (1869)from Matthew Arnold (1869)

Examples of the contrast between Examples of the contrast between high and low culturehigh and low culture

High CultureHigh Culture Low CultureLow Culture

Criticisms of the Frankfurt SchoolCriticisms of the Frankfurt School Mass society theoryMass society theory – assumes we are all the same – assumes we are all the same

Leans on conspiracyLeans on conspiracy – assumes that the music – assumes that the music industry is run by people who intend to maintain the industry is run by people who intend to maintain the political status quo rather than just get high ratingspolitical status quo rather than just get high ratings

No place for critical pop cultureNo place for critical pop culture – doesn’t allow for the – doesn’t allow for the idea that some popular music opposes the status quoidea that some popular music opposes the status quo

No place for critical readingsNo place for critical readings – doesn’t allow that – doesn’t allow that some of us may come up with our own radical some of us may come up with our own radical interpretations of music (television) interpretations of music (television)

Pop Idol – some thoughtsPop Idol – some thoughts Is it the ultimate manipulation of consumers – or an insightful Is it the ultimate manipulation of consumers – or an insightful

deconstruction of the music industry for audiences?deconstruction of the music industry for audiences?

Is it one long advert for new bands and their managers (who often sit on Is it one long advert for new bands and their managers (who often sit on the panel)?the panel)?

The pleasure of the collective viewing experience – ‘the water cooler The pleasure of the collective viewing experience – ‘the water cooler moment’moment’

Ultimate interactive tv programme – do the audiences have the power to Ultimate interactive tv programme – do the audiences have the power to make or break the performers?make or break the performers?

Is there any focus on artistic abilities? Does this matter?Is there any focus on artistic abilities? Does this matter?

Is this a superficial treatment of music and stars, or does it enhance the Is this a superficial treatment of music and stars, or does it enhance the ‘artistic’ performance?‘artistic’ performance?

ACTIVE AUDIENCES or MANIPULATED PASSIVE CONSUMERS?ACTIVE AUDIENCES or MANIPULATED PASSIVE CONSUMERS?

Pop Idol v Later…Pop Idol v Later…

Manufactured v authentic?Manufactured v authentic?

Mass v niche?Mass v niche?

Low culture v high culture?Low culture v high culture?

Dance and mime v musicianship?Dance and mime v musicianship?

Manipulated audience v ‘intellectual’ audience?Manipulated audience v ‘intellectual’ audience?

EssayEssay

With reference to 3 music television With reference to 3 music television programmes, evaluate how the medium of programmes, evaluate how the medium of

television provides pleasures for television provides pleasures for audiencesaudiences

500 words500 words