kMO Horkheimer and Adorno

On page 50 Horkheimer and Adorno discuss “the relationship to the past.” The comparison of mass culture to late liberalism is based on the idea of the exclusion of the new. Put in simpler terms, in the film industry any manuscript which is not reassuringly based on a best-seller is viewed with mistrust. This hesitation is also seen across most mass-media industries. Horkheimer and Adorno state that “tempo and dynamism are paramount.” This basically means that we are always in motion. We are always searching for something new and living in the moment instead of placing what we already have on a pedestal and letting it sit in time. I recently read an article by Butler and she discusses the difference between art and fashion. She says that art is timeless and is admired for what it is whereas fashion is ever-changing and criticized for what it could be. In my opinion this idea parallels what Horkeimer and Adorno are trying to say. In fact this next quote supports my point. “The frozen genres - sketch, short story, problem film, hit song represent the average of late liberal taste threateningly imposed as a norm. “ An interesting thought that these two theorists brought up was the idea that the more all-embracing that the culture industry has become the more it has forced the outsider into bankruptcy or a syndicate. Apparently some people believe that entertainment or “light art” betrays pure expression….

However, what I would really like to know is what the difference between light art and autonomous art is? If anyone can offer a good explanation I would really appreciate your comment underneath my blog…Thanks!