Frankfurt School

The Frankfurt School refers to a group of thinkers associated with the Institute for Social Research in Germany, founded in the early 20th century. They combined Marxist ideas with other social theories to critique modern capitalist societies. Their work focused on how culture, ideology, and power structures shape human behavior and consciousness. They argued that capitalist societies produce social alienation and that true liberation requires critical reflection on society, culture, and politics. Key figures include Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse, who explored how culture can both reinforce and challenge social norms and systems of power.