Culture Industry

The culture industry refers to the processes through which cultural goods—like movies, music, and art—are produced and marketed on a large scale. Coined by philosophers Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, the term suggests that culture has become commodified, prioritizing profit over genuine artistic expression. This can lead to the creation of uniform, mass-produced cultural products that shape public tastes and values, often limiting diversity and critical thought by catering to mainstream preferences. In essence, the culture industry highlights how culture can be influenced and manipulated by economic interests.