Seminar 2

What is Enlightenment?

The term enlightenment made me think on the time on the 18^th, where scientist thoughts where spread in Europe and traditions become contested.

According to the text, enlightenment has always focused on the aim to make people free from fear, and make them to masters instead.  It ‘s criticized for the way it make people think, the way it takes away philosophic thoughts, because for the enlightenment thinkers is anything an illusion unless it can be solved with numbers.  The old powers in the Platonic and the Aristotelian heritage of metaphysics have been discerned thanks to the enlightenment. The text arguing for the enlightenment works on same way as a dictator, it decides what people should thought.

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

Myth is something that we don’t know for sure, like if the sphinx is a man or lion. Myths sought to report, to tell of origins and to name things. But in order to do that, it also sought to narrate, record and explain. But enlightenment and scientific calculations annuls this account, that once in our time was given to myths. Enlightenment simply has the ability to reduce the myths in a way in meaning of local myths are gone or heavily reduced, like local demons and myths figures are replaced by e.g. gods

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

All the characteristic media, especially cinema, radio, jazz and magazines have the same origination as culture industry, who originate in liberal industrial countries. In progress this media followed the general law of capital. Some companies did not follow the follow the money, and it did it to its own disadvantage. The old media, like old movies or old radio program, media could be consider as art. Which have another focus than today, then today it is nothing else but business and even call themselves for industries.

What is meant by “culture industry”?

Culture industry is the generic name for industries that bring culture, and nor at least media, to the society. Its common for interested parties like to explain culture industry in technological terms. Millions of participants argue for the demand of reproduction process will inevitable lead to the use of standard product, for meet same needs at countless locations. It is claimed that the standardized forms where originally derived from the need of the costumers. For present is the technology of culture industry confines itself to standardization and mass production, thereby it sacrifices what once distinguished the logic of the work from that of society. This thanks to the function of economy today, not because that is how technology work.

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

Mass media is media for the masses. But since culture industry, which is including media have the main goal to make a profit, it will be produce it in a way to make sure that the profit is as large as possible. The phrase “this concert is brought to you as a public service” in a way an indirect deception, since someone must somehow pay money to make the concert happen. If masses go to such public services, and therefore pay for example personal transportation or toilet visits, someone will somehow make a profit on what is suppose to be a public service.

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

I find the concept of cultural industry quite interesting. Maybe because I think that I consume lot of media, and even collect on games, movies (old as new) and books. But I don’t I never think on way like the way the Authors describe it. I maybe had similar thoughts, but never formulate it or but words on those thoughts like Author succeed to do. The thought of “standardized media” whose greatest goal is to make profit is fascinating. Even if I don’t fully agree with the view on media as is described in the text.