"The Stars Down to Earth" and other Essays - Softcover

Theodor Adorno

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415271002 ISBN 13: 9780415271004

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

The Stars Down to Earth shows us a stunningly prescient Adorno. Haunted by the ugly side of American culture industries he used the different angles provided by each of these three essays to showcase the dangers inherent in modern obsessions with consumption. He engages with some of his most enduring themes in this seminal collection, focusing on the irrational in mass culture - from astrology to new age cults, from anti-semitism to the power of neo-fascist propaganda. He points out that the modern state and market forces serve the interest of capital in its basic form. Stephan Crook's introduction grounds Adorno's arguments firmly in the present where extreme religious and political organizations are commonplace - so commonplace in fact that often we deem them unworthy of our attention. Half a century ago Theodore Adorno not only recognised the dangers, but proclaimed them loudly. We did not listen then. Maybe it is not too late to listen now.

About this title

About the Author

Theodor Adorno (1903 - 1969). German philosopher who was a leading member of the Frankfurt School. Adorno led an influential attack on the "culture industry" prevalent in contemporary capitalist society.

From the Back Cover

'There is no question of the contemporary importance and relevance of these essays. Adorno is one of the great critics of the role of irrational authoritarianism in contemporary society.' - Douglas Kellner, author of Media Culture.

Theodor Adorno was one of the giants of twentieth-century thought. This volume presents four of his key writings on the irrational in mass culture - from astrology to fascism, from anti-Semitism to the Occult. The superb essay 'Stars Down to Earth' - an innovative and startling analysis of the astrology column in a Los Angeles newspaper - is followed by three shorter pieces which explore the dark side of modern culture and lead to profoundly disturbing conclusions. The introduction grounds Adorno's arguments firmly in the present, where extreme religious and political organizations are commonplace. Half a century ago Theodor Adorno not only recognized the dangers, but proclaimed them loudly. We did not listen then. Maybe it is not too late to listen now.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415271002
• ISBN 13: 9780415271004
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: Stephen Crook