Kulturindustrien

Kulturindustrien, a German term often translated as "culture industry," refers to the production of cultural goods and services by capitalist enterprises. It was first systematically developed by the Frankfurt School theorists Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer in their 1944 work "Dialectic of Enlightenment." They argued that in a mass society, culture is no longer produced by autonomous artists but is standardized and commodified by a profit-driven industry. This process, they contended, leads to the creation of predictable and formulaic cultural products that serve to pacify and control the masses rather than foster critical thinking or genuine artistic expression.

The culture industry encompasses a wide range of sectors, including film, music, television, publishing, and advertising. Adorno and Horkheimer believed that these industries prioritize mass appeal and profitability over artistic merit, resulting in a homogenization of cultural experiences. They identified common characteristics such as repetition, predictability, and the emphasis on entertainment over intellectual engagement. The goal, according to their analysis, is to create passive consumers who readily accept the dominant ideology and social order. While the term originated in a critique of mid-20th century capitalist societies, the concept of the culture industry remains relevant for analyzing contemporary media and cultural production, as globalization and digital technologies have further accelerated the commodification of cultural goods.