The Culture Industry (concept)

The concept of the Culture Industry, developed by thinkers like Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, refers to how mass-produced cultural goods—such as movies, music, and TV shows—are created and distributed by large corporations to generate profit. This process tends to standardize and commodify culture, leading to uniform entertainment that discourages critical thinking and individuality. Essentially, the Culture Industry shapes popular culture to maintain consumer conformity and supports capitalist interests, which can diminish the diversity of creative expression and reduce culture to a product designed for passive consumption.