Theme 2: Critical media studies

What is Enlightenment? 

Enlightenment emerged in Europe in the mid to late 1700s. Natural science had its impact and people began to rely more and more on science instead of religion. Instead of dedicating God as their guide, people began to trust on their own sense and knowledge. The main idea was the belief in human understanding people should think by themselves instead of relying on a superior force leading the way.

What is the meaning and function of “myth” in Adorno and Horkheimer’s argument?

The enlightenment idea was that; by using reason and thought differ from myths and their irrational thinking about a higher power that control the people. The myths and religion had previously served as guidelines for how people should live and think but the Enlightenment idea was that people should think by themselves and not be guided by a higher power.

But Adorno and Horkheimer argued that the Enlightenment still controlled the people. Instead of an irrational power, scientific laws began the higher power and controlled the people in the same way.

“Myth is already enlightenment, and enlightenment reverts to mythology.”

Adorno believes that the human tried to demystify the world. This was done by classifying, decompose and naming nature. But instead the human became a slave to our apparent reason. In fact, it is our belief that science explain everything as much a myth as religion.

Enlightenment got people to distance themselves from which they would exercise power over (the nature).

What are the “old” and “new” media that are discussed in the Dialectic of Enlightenment?

Adorno and Horkheimer distinguishes between old and new media, and argues that old media allows the audience to decide the rules, while the new media regulates the audience. An example of old media is the phone. The new media such as TV, radio are no longer art, its just at way to make money.

What is meant by “culture industry”? What is the relationship between mass media and “mass deception”, according to Adorno and Horkheimer?

Adorno and Horkheimer criticized the culture industry, saying that the industry controlled humanity in the same way as a dictator would do. People are programmed by the entertainment industry to consume in the same way as they are programmed at their work. The human being is not a free individual because the entertainment industry is steering us by getting us to consume more. Adorno and Horkheimer believe that the culture industry practice violence on the working class because it prevents any form of political reflection. The capitalism advocates prevents the people for make revolution by getting the workers to put all their free time on popular culture. The entertainment industry is thus a way for capitalism to maintain their power over the people.

Cultural industry let the man to believe that the way to happiness is through consumption. False needs get people to consume more. Adorno and Horkheimer mean that mass culture was the most dangerous and affected people's own desire the most.

Please identify one or two concepts/terms that you find particularly interesting. Motivate your choice.

I think the most interesting part of the text is when Adorno and Horkheimer discuss cultural industry and how it has gained control of the man. Movies, radio and newspapers manipulate people and put them in a passive state without their own will.

I think that this question is a hot topic in today's society. Today hidden marketing is a common phenomenon. In movies, TV series, and magazines, we become exposed to marketing without our knowledge. This is a scary way to manipulate people, and a scary thought is that we are much more manipulated than we think.