1. What is Enlightenment?
Enlightenment is a movement that wanted to get rid of all the myths that exist in society and instead replacing it with knowledge and science. Many people bases their ideas on experience , traditions and superstition etc. and the enlightenment movement thinks that the ideas should be based on knowledge based on science. In the Enlightenment the human is believed to be “the master of nature”.
2. What is the meaning and function of “myth” in Adorno and Horkheimer’s argument?
Myth is a tradition that has emerged from the beginning of mankind and it is a response to mystery and tends to serve as an explanatory solution to enigmas and unexplained phenomena. H&A describes myth as synonymous to false clarity and that it seeks to explain phenomena, just like enlightenment, and is in that sense quite similar.
“Myth is already enlightenment, and enlightenment reverts to mythology.”
3. What are the “old” and “new” media that are discussed in the Dialectic of Enlightenment?
Couldn't really find any answer to the (old) part of the question question, but i think that radio is a (new) version of the printing press. The TV is described as something very close to radio and film.
4 What is meant by “culture industry”?
The cultural industry is, for me, a way for the media to introduce a sort of a third party. There is so much power in this, the TV / Radio broadcasts everything in one direction, so the listener has no possibility of answering, and many listens blankly at what is being said. It can, at worst, become a kind of propaganda machine if things go badly
5. What is the relationship between mass media and “mass deception”, according to Adorno and Horkheimer?
I think this is a merger between question one, three and four. In the fourth question, we talk a lot about the media as a kind of propaganda machine, that is, if a news company gives out scary facts about any business or similar. However, it is important that these new companies follow enlightenment, otherwise possibly false revolted occur, named in question three and four.
6. Please identify one or two concepts/terms that you find particularly interesting. Motivate your choice.
Actually, I thought this book, was pretty uninteresting to read and due to the fact that we didn't had any lectures or seminars this week. I did however found the questions interesting to analyze based on the text, mainly the question about why people dent to speak of fact where there isn't really any fact and reflect over that. When i read these question I thought to myself that I actually does it myself.
I also have a hard time to answer all the questions, by just reading the text. Even if I think you have clear answer on all questions, except on question 3. Do you have an idea of what "old" media is, thanks to the seminar or lecture? And you find any topic or concept where interesting in the seminar?
SvaraRaderaRegarding question 3, the book doesn't actually use the term "old media". That's why you can't find anything about it. However, it does refer to things like classical music, books and theatre. These are the high culture media that Adorno and Horkheimer are used to because they are in that small intellectual group that can afford and have the proper education to enjoy it. They are criticising mass production of media, and while I agree with them on the point of using the content only as an excuse to deliver advertisements or keeping control over the masses, I believe they are wrong in the sense that is is actually not bad that everyone can get access to culture.
SvaraRadera