Task two- on popular music

Adorno makes references to the two musical spheres on on popular culture and the other culture. Culture is for the upper classes and popular culture is for the masses,working class. They are two spheres which in his views are worlds apart in refernce to musical taste and talent of the composer. A clear judgment concerning the relation of serious music to popular music can be arrived at only by strict attention to the fundamental characteristic of popular music: standardization.' (Adorno 1941) He says by this standardization of the chorus containing 32 bars and the range having one octave and one note the music is regurgitated over and over its all the same.' The composition hears for the listener' (Adorno 1941:77) once you have listened to one song you have heard them all. This makes a direct link to pseudo-individualization which is the thought that you have free choice yet Adorno argues that popular music does the thinking for you, its purpose to make you think you have a choice. A way of making the real a passive thought. He talks from a very upper class level and considers the views of the few upper class are more important than the more! Behind judgements of taste lie power politics and class.'Structural standardization aims at standard reactions' (Adorno 1941:76) Adorno refers to the structuring of society as popular music is aimed at the masses and there is more working class than upper class by producing music which is of a very similar genre to previous songs which have been a hit and released you are subjecting the masses to what you want them to hear and therefore they are more likely to enjoy and like the music you have produced for them,resulting in more record sales.





This video to me is a feel good song which when you here the tune it makes you feel happy the lyrics get forgotten how Adorno explains that it is this illusion and a way to ignore reality it is a passive form of distraction. Yet this genre of music is very standardized yet you cant help but like it due to its up beat nature. Yet to me a song can also reflect memories and depending on when it was released e.g summertime when you first heard it can reflect your feelings about it wether you like it or not.