Cultural Industry: The Agony of a Concept - Paulo Puterman

Cultural Industry: The Agony of a Concept

In his book "Cultural Industry: The Agony of a Concept", Paulo Puterman offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking analysis of the concept of the cultural industry. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including classical sociology, cultural studies, and political economy, Puterman argues that the concept of the cultural industry is in crisis. He identifies a number of factors that have contributed to this crisis, including the rise of new technologies, the globalization of the economy, and the increasing commodification of culture.

Puterman begins by tracing the history of the concept of the cultural industry. He shows how the concept was first developed by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer in the 1940s, as a way of understanding the relationship between culture and capitalism. Adorno and Horkheimer argued that the cultural industry was a system of mass production that churned out standardized cultural products designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. They saw the cultural industry as a threat to genuine culture, which they believed was characterized by its autonomy and its ability to challenge the status quo.

Puterman argues that the concept of the cultural industry has been challenged by a number of developments in recent decades. First, the rise of new technologies, such as the internet, has made it possible for individuals to produce and distribute their own cultural products, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers of the cultural industry. Second, the globalization of the economy has led to a greater diversity of cultural products being available to consumers. Third, the increasing commodification of culture has made it more difficult to distinguish between genuine culture and mass-produced culture.

Puterman concludes that the concept of the cultural industry is in crisis because it is no longer able to account for the complexity and diversity of contemporary culture. He argues that we need to develop new ways of understanding the relationship between culture and capitalism.

Key Themes

• The history of the concept of the cultural industry
• The crisis of the concept of the cultural industry
• The rise of new technologies and the globalization of the economy
• The increasing commodification of culture
• The need for new ways of understanding the relationship between culture and capitalism

Why You Should Read This Book

"Cultural Industry: The Agony of a Concept" is a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship between culture and capitalism. Puterman's analysis is insightful and provocative, and he offers a number of important new perspectives on this complex issue. This book is essential reading for scholars, students, and anyone else who is interested in understanding the role of culture in contemporary society.

Praise for "Cultural Industry: The Agony of a Concept"

"A brilliant and original analysis of the concept of the cultural industry. Puterman offers a devastating critique of the traditional view of the cultural industry as a system of mass production that churns out standardized cultural products. He shows how the concept of the cultural industry has been challenged by a number of developments in recent decades, and he argues that we need to develop new ways of understanding the relationship between culture and capitalism." - Fredric Jameson, author of "Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism"

"Puterman's book is a major contribution to the study of the cultural industry. He offers a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the concept of the cultural industry, and he identifies a number of important factors that have contributed to its crisis. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the relationship between culture and capitalism." - Richard Dyer, author of "The Matter of Images: Essays on Representations"

"A provocative and stimulating book. Puterman challenges the traditional view of the cultural industry as a monolithic system of mass production. He shows how the cultural industry is a complex and dynamic field that is constantly evolving. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the role of culture in contemporary society." - Toby Miller, author of "The Routledge Companion to Cultural Studies"