An Analysis of Current Mass Media Phenomenon from the Perspective of Theodor W. Adorno’s Popular Music Criticism

Abstract

This article analyzes Theodor W. Adorno’s critical arguments on popular music from a sociological perspective, and explores the reference and enlightenment of his arguments on the problems of current mass media. Both mass media and popular music belong to the “cultural industry”. It also has social characteristics of standardization, pseudo-individualization, entertainment and social cohesion. It lacks independent artistry and becomes an accomplice of capitalist ideology, causing the masses to lose their ability to think indepen-dently, and lose their spirit of resistance and criticism. This article aims to arouse people’s in-depth reflection on the phenomenon of current mass media, and hope that mainstream media will make good use of the “double-edged sword” of mass media, and play a lead role to create a clean mass cultural en-vironment, thereby promoting the positive development of mass media.