Would you like a glass of

homogenized milk with that mass consumption?

Critical theory, the Frankfurt School and universal pragmatics in the context of communication and technology studies

What to expect todayWhat is critical theory?

What/Who is the Frankfurt School?

Implications for communication technology & mass media

Who is Habermas?

What is universal pragmatics?

What is critical theory?

“critiquing & changing society as a

whole”

The 3 assumptions of critical

theory are…

Knowledge is

awareness, and

awareness is power.

(epistemological)

People are always

organized in hierarchical

power structures.

(ontological)

Critical theorists

value individuality

and emancipatio

n. (axiological)

Look closer.

The Frankfurt

School(“Institute for

Social Research”)

Habermas

Adorno Horkheimer

The Frankfurt School: Critical

theory with a spin – it’s

all about capitalism

The Frankfurt

School+

Mass Communica

tion

Why so interested in mass

communication & power, Adorno?

Why so interested in mass

communication & power, Adorno?

The culture industry: How

corporations own and mass produce a

pacified culture that accepts its

homogenization

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kmlm7UPtSw

Mass consumption tastes good.

• At your desk when you got there – choice to eat?

• Familiar taste• Easy to access• Groupthink: Is everyone

eating them? Then I should, too…

The Frankfurt

School+

Technology

Domination fosters resistance(Marx)

Can Web technologies emancipate?

Internetworked Social Movements

Is there a need for those in

power to continue to

control what people are

saying online?

What would the Frankfurt School say about the

emancipatory power of the Web?

Criticism (to keep in mind):

Adorno condemns society but offers no promise of a better

tomorrow.