The dissertation focuses on the thinking of Theodor W. Adorno and especially on his theory of the culture industry. Its main goal is to foreground Adorno’s research method and explicate its central premises. It will be argued that Adorno’s theory should be understood as dialectical media theory. To accomplish this task, the study proceeds in two major steps. Firstly, it describes the dialectical basis and background of Adorno’s theory. Secondly, it distinguishes several dialectical models that Adorno applies in his analyses of the culture industry.
The dissertation is theoretical in nature. Its research material consists mainly of the works of Adorno, literature on Adorno and critiques of Adorno.
Although the dissertation has much in common with research on media theories, concepts and history of media studies, it also tries to prove that by applying Adorno’s dialectical method we could deepen our knowledge of today’s media culture too.
Researcher:
Simo Pieniniemi
tel. +358 3 3551 4091
simo.pieniniemi(a)uta.fi