Adorno - his idea of art as a capitalist product

Adorno argued that a capitalism fed people with the products of a 'culture industry' - the opposite of 'true' art - to keep them passively satisfied and politically unmoved. He also put emphasis on the idea of culture to fit the status quo. Popular culture was seen as the reason for peoples passive fulfilment and lack of interest in dissolving the capitalist network.

 Adorno suggested that 'culture industries' heave out a devalued mass of unpretentious, nostalgic products which have replaced the more tough and critical art forms which might lead people to actually question social life. Popular media and music products are characterised by standardisation.