There is a crack in everything. Introduction to the Frankfurt School, Critical Theory and Negative Dialectics.
Image: Horkheimer and Adorno.
The thought of the so-called Frankfurt School—of Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer and their colleagues—can be considered one of the most significant innovations in 20th-century philosophy. Concepts like the dialectic of enlightenment, the culture industry, and Adorno’s notion of the Non-Identical have become both canonical and, at times, mystified.
In this reading group, we will explore key texts that form the foundation of this school of thought. By drawing on Marx’s critique and simultaneously addressing socio-historical changes, their approach developed the Enlightenment ideals of freedom, progress, and equality further. In examining phenomena such as fascism and authoritarianism, mass culture and aesthetic experience, this led to a profound analysis of the contradictions of modern society and bourgeois ideology.
Together, we will trace the genesis of these ideas, observe how they evolved over time, and consider their relevance today—including what Leonard Cohen’s evocative lyrics have to do with all of this.
Contact program host Kathrin Witter to register for the reading group sessions. No prior knowledge is require. Texts will be provided in English after registration.
February 13 – Max Horkheimer: Traditional and Critical Theory
March 6 – Max Horkheimer & Theodor W. Adorno: Dialectics of Enlightenment I (The Concept of Enlightenment, Odysseus, Culture Industry)
March 27 – Max Horkheimer & Theodor W. Adorno: Dialectics of Enlightenment II (Culture Industry, Elements of Antisemitism)
April 10 – Theodor W. Adorno: Negative Dialectics (Introduction)
