The Culture Industry (Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno)

The Culture Industry, by Horkheimer and Adorno, argues that modern mass media and entertainment—like movies, music, and TV—are controlled by corporations that manipulate culture to maintain social dominance. Instead of genuinely reflecting diverse human experiences, cultural products are designed to promote conformity, passive consumption, and consumerism. This process dulls critical thinking and creates a homogenized society where individuality is suppressed, ultimately serving the interests of the powerful by preventing genuine social change. In essence, the culture industry commodifies culture to reinforce existing social and economic structures.