Friday, 3 December 2010
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Task 2- On popular culture
Adorno's view on 'Popular' music is that it is not serious. He thinks of it to be for the 'Lower class' or uneducated, where as 'serious' music is for the intellectual and educated. "Structural standardisation aims at standard reactions" (Adorno, 1941, p.76) He thinks that people who buy into standardised products are standardised consumers and are not 'free'. He also thinks that all pop music sounds the same, serious music has details which you have to be well educated to appreciate. "The composition hears for the listener" (Adorno, 1941, p.77) The consumers are given what they think they want. The music is already 'pre-digested' therefore there is no effort required. "Concentration and control in our culture hide themselves in their very manifestation. Unhidden they would provoke resistance" (Adorno, 1941, p.78) If people weren't controlled then they wouldn't buy into it. "Standardisation of song hits keeps the customer in line by doing their listening for them." (Adorno, 1941, p.79)
Pseudo individualisation, people forget that what they are listening to has already been 'Pre-digested', listened to for them. Adorno is very patronising when he talks about pop music. By saying 'entertainment which does not demand attention' he in insinuating that this type of music is for a 'general kind'. He thinks that consumers of popular music do not need an escape from the world as they do not have hard lives.
Quotes taken from the text:
Adorno, T. (1941) 'On popular music', studies in philosophy and social science, No.9
I chose these songs by David Guetta because they are both very similar as with a lot of David Guetta's other songs and remixes he does for other artists. I think that with his music you always know what to expect and is almost 'Pre-digested'
Pseudo individualisation, people forget that what they are listening to has already been 'Pre-digested', listened to for them. Adorno is very patronising when he talks about pop music. By saying 'entertainment which does not demand attention' he in insinuating that this type of music is for a 'general kind'. He thinks that consumers of popular music do not need an escape from the world as they do not have hard lives.
Quotes taken from the text:
Adorno, T. (1941) 'On popular music', studies in philosophy and social science, No.9
I chose these songs by David Guetta because they are both very similar as with a lot of David Guetta's other songs and remixes he does for other artists. I think that with his music you always know what to expect and is almost 'Pre-digested'