While reading Horkheimer and Adorno's article, "The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception," I found a lot of parallels with other authors we have read. For instance, one of first concepts they talk about is the false reality films give to people, which goes right along with Benjamin's theory of film and its falsities. Both authors also talk about the lack of art found in film today, and how it's becoming mostly politics. A few other people in their posts seemed to be upset by their quote about film and how it no longer should be considered an art, but could be better described as trash. Before jumping all over them though, I think people might be taking what they said too literally and not looking at the factors behind the statement. What I think they meant was that while there are great films being produced every year, there are many many more bad films being produced. These films they are referring to are the corporate-influenced and the corporate-funded films. This goes along with the thesis of their article, which is the overwhelming totality in our culture and how it's affecting every aspect of our lives.
"As a result, the word, which henceforth is allowed only to designate something and not mean it, becomes so fixated on the object that it hardens to a formula."
An interesting point they made was ideology's influence in the development of language. They explained that through advertising, and through how we communicate in response to advertising, our language changes every day. Most definitions in Webster's now have their own little twist thanks to our culture. In the same manner, our emotions and even our thoughts, are all controlled by the ideology of our culture, and also could be argued to be controlled by corporations.
"All are free to dance and amuse themselves, just as, since the historical neutralization of religion, they have been free to join any of the countless sects...But freedom to choose ideology, which always reflects economic coercion, everywhere proves to be freedom to be the same." Horkheimer and Adorno end their article with this quote. Like Hebdige, they claim that we cannot get away from ideology and hegemony the ruling class creates. Ugh.
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Elizabeth Byrne- Horkheimer and Adorno
In this article, the concept of false reality films also stuck out as relating to other authors from that we have read this semester. Right now I am in the midst of watching "Thank You For Smoking", and I think that it portrays American society reflecting on politics and government. I have not finished the movie, but this film is considered art because it is form of art. However I see it more as getting a message across (as most art does) but at the same time I am starting to see movies less as an art form because it is the idea, the message, morals, and/ or values that the movie is showing just as a piece of writing would do. The movie is trying to get people to start smoking as the corporate people were more interested in making money than peoples health. I also think this movie is a parody on America and media and how cigarette companies still advertise to get people to start smoking. Such as the Camels No. 5's which are bright pink and teal trimmed packages which seem to directly target teenage girls. This leads me to the class quote that Sgt. Pepper touches on"All are free to dance and amuse themselves, just as, since the historical neutralization of religion, they have been free to join any of the countless sects...But freedom to choose ideology, which always reflects economic coercion, everywhere proves to be freedom to be the same." The ruling class has money and power and are able to keep sending out underlying false messages.
Another thing about modern and contemporary art that I have been thinking about is how does one decide if is art or trash. The movie that was shown of the naked women in the Rollins museum seemed to have caused a lot of controversy... does it cross the line of pornography,demeaning, and pointless or is empowering to the woman body?
After I saw the exhibit I found my self asking class mates what they thought of the piece of work -- to me the most important thing was that it created though and forced me to talk about it. If it stands out, raises questions, and states argument than it is worth putting out to the public. The art that I don't understand is when some artist just splatter a board with ten different colors of paint or dismantle a toilet and put it on display-I don't see any meaning or underlying message.
Thank You For Smoking just ended and it touches on cell phones and getting cancer from them.... with this i thought back to our first class about germs, bombs, technology etc... is our culture living in fear?
On another note, going back to how Dr. Rog was putting various songs such as Daft Punk and Kanye's song over each other- I saw this happening in a movie, August Rush, where a cello was being played in an orchestra mixed/over a guitar in a rock band. It didn't sound off and amazed me how it actually sounded good. Another thing to check out which is cool is hoodinternet.com where they mixed various songs.... just a cool concept.
great comments, guys
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