TASK 2

Adorno's ideas on popular culture & music.

The role of popular music in society is questioned in many ways throughout this article. Adorno believed that classical music was a superior form of human expression and that popular music was standardized to the point that it is ‘predigested’ before you have even sampled it. Consumers have a standard reaction to popular music which can be seen as relaxing and familiar and is used as ‘audio wallpaper’ in shops, to sell clothing and products. It was thought by Adorno that people devoted no intellectual effort to listen to popular music and was not seen as ‘serious music’ unlike ‘serious’ composers like Mozart and Beethoven. Adorno also addresses Pseudo- Individualization which can be applied to the differences between reality and illusions of originality within culture today.

Popular music videos in today’s society include fairly standard costumes, ideas and concepts, artists which are able to fit into society’s materialistic, homogenized melting pot that corporations produce for the masses. The X Factor and Pop Idol are examples of this and shows of this ilk are often criticized for the unoriginality of the artists.
Lady Ga Ga is example of plugging. Her songs are pretty standard and familiar but with the use of styling and costume, she has invented a new look which is now being mimicked on the runway and in fashion shoots.



Another music video which shows standardization is taken from the film ‘Josie and The Pussycats’. It shows a girl band’s rise to fame and all the expectations that come along with it. They have to look a certain way, act a certain way and perform a certain way.