Theme 2: Critical media studie

1. The concept enlightenment symbolizes the whole process that’s given rise to modern civilization and modern scientific thought. What they mean by scientific thought is thinking that is based on knowledge and understanding by rationality and reason. Scientific thought liberates people from the myths but also leads to a fragmentation of awareness of existence in its entirety. Horkheimer & Adorno criticizes the idea of enlightenment as disfigured blind domination and that contributed to the cultural industry's inherent totalitarian tendencies.

2. Dialectic is a term that originally was used in the context of a debate between people with differing views using rational arguments to reach truth. An early example of this would be Plato’s dialogues. In later philosophers such as Hegel and later Marx the term is applied to describe the mechanism of metaphysical and material historical change. In Marx for example dialectics is proposed as the mechanism of historical change whereby the rise of a societal group to hegemony is necessarily accompanied by the rise of an opposing group and the struggle between these groupings result in a new societal order in which by necessity a new opposition will arise. Here we see the basic structuring of dialectics; thesis versus antithesis resulting is a synthesis.

3. Nominalism is a view within the philosophy of language. In short it is the claim that only particulars exist. Universals are either non-existing or constructions that do not correspond to any reality. When we use a word such as ‘good’ we’re not, according to the nominalist doctrine, referring to an existing universal concept of ‘good’ but in fact just a concept made up of a multitude of particular examples. It’s an important concept within the context of this text because Adorno & Horkheimer work is dedicated to criticizing the thought paradigm of the enlightenment in which nominalism is a key feature.

4. Myth is at its core a non-scientific attempt at making sense of the world. Before the scientific revolution and the enlightenment myth was the pillar stone of society and it held absolute sway. The power of myth and indeed the Enlightenment comes from its ability to help people deal with their fear of the unknown.The function of myth within the context of the argument might be a sort of antithesis to the hegemony of modern enlightened thinking. The proponents of the enlightenment thinking are in the modern age getting to be dogmatic to the point of intolerance of mythical thinking. There by making it the antithesis of the enlightenment movement.

1. Substructures consist of the material economic foundation of society and give rise to superstructure. Superstructure changes more slowly (is more resistant to change) then substructure however when substructure change (eg. by new technology) the superstructure has to change eventually. Marx believed that capital production (a superstructure) would eventually cover all and every aspect of production, various substructures.

When Benjamin wrote his essay transformation of the superstructure had caused a change in conditions of production. Therefor Benjamin related this concept to art. Benjamin analyzed the consequences the Capital production had on art, what happened with art under the technological development under capitalism? It’s important to analyzing cultural production from a Marxist perspective because Benjamin operates within the framework of Marxism.

2. Benjamin believe that cultural have revolutionary potentials. Modern technology has changed the way people learn and experience the world and this has radical political implications. Benjamin arguing that through mechanical reproduction and mass production the work of art has the potential to be politicized. As I understand; Benjamin does not mean that art should be used as a tool in politics but art can restore an experience that has been lost in the current social system. Fascism politicization requires a politicization of the aesthetic. However Adorno & Horkheimer felt that the Cultural Revolution and the commercialization was a threat to human intellectuals and spiritual liberation. Cultural industries abolish individuality and get the individual critical ability to disappear. According to Adorno&Horkheimer there is a risk that the growing capitalist structures will paralyze the development of independent individuals.

3. The way that we look at art has changed over time. Social changes affect the mode of human sense perception. It is the historical experiences that determine the way our perception is organized; it’s not completely biological or natural. By accepting reproduction of art and the loss of aura they accept a new way of perception. With the reproduction of art the copies lack a context of presence in time and space. Benjamin's thesis is that perception is historically determined therefore changes in the perception of for instance an artwork should be seen as expression of social processes. For instance big cities have changed citizen´s way to use their senses, they’re forced to use sight over hearing. 

4. According to Benjamin mechanical reproduction has caused loss of the objects aura. Benjamin describes the aura as the originality and authenticity of a work of art that has not been reproduced.  By reproducing the aura of objects is destroyed. Natural objects are not as vulnerable compared to art objects.  The core of the art object´s is of the utmost sensitivity. 

Reference list Theme 2: 

Bryder, T (2006). Upplysningens självreflexion. Aspekter av Theodor W. Adornos kritiska teori. Sociologisk Forskning, 1 January 2006, Vol.43(4), pp.82-84..

Rudbeck, Carl (2014). Benjamins aura lever I detaljerna. SVD.se, 5 september. http://www.svd.se/benjamins-aura-lever-i-detaljerna [Hämtad 2016-09-05].