Film, By Max Horkheimer And Theodor Adorno - 1176 Words

There is no doubt that film is a powerful mode of cultural production that caters to politicians, academics, and the general public. We are, in our quotidian existence, unwittingly exposed to a stunning amount of sensorial stimulation. Much of this stimulation comes from film, a form of media that has captivated sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers. In the Frankfurt School, Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno interpret the sociopolitical implications of film differently from Walter Benjamin. Horkheimer and Adorno see film as a means to deceive and manipulate the proletariat—although Benjamin critiques capitalist exploitation of film, he argues that film can serve revolutionary purposes. In the context of historical film, Benjamin s arguments are more convincing than Horkheimer and Adorno s; film is not inherently authoritarian or oppressive. Rather, the manner film is employed socio-politically is what defines its roles in mass culture. In The Culture Industry: Enlighte nment as Mass Deception, Horkheimer and Adorno argue that the bourgeoisie use film as a means to impose control over the proletariat. They base their argument on how culture today is infecting everything with sameness (Horkheimer 94). That is, the ubiquity of mass culture allows for the bourgeoisie to infect everyone with certain notions. Horkheimer and Adorno view film as a useful way of indoctrinating the masses—it quickly imparts information through the same medium. When they contend howShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Theodor Adornos Dialectic Of Enlightenment977 Words   |  4 Pagesconformity has replaced consciousness.† - Theodor Adorno To me, this quote means that popular culture creates uniformed interests and personalities among people, rather than creating individuality. The quote comes from Theodor W. Adorno. Theodor Adorno was famous for his philosophy, sociology, and condemning theories of society. He created pieces that make you question your place in society. One work that stands out to me is co-written by Max Horkheimer and titled, ‘Dialectic of Enlightenment’.Read MoreModern Film On Our Rational And Critical Thought Processes1372 Words   |  6 Pages Frankfurt School philosophers fiercely debated the effects of modern film on our rational and critical thought processes. Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno assert film is an oppressive technology that makes us intellectually docile, while Walter Benjamin contests their assertion by recognizing film s liberatory potential. Although Horkheimer and Adorno make important points about the current relationship between film and the masses, they fail to acknowledge any possible changes to it. In the contextRead MoreThe Effects Of Modern Film On Our Rational And Critical Thought Processes1395 Words   |  6 PagesGermany, Frankfurt School philosophers fiercely debated the effects of modern film on our rational and critical thought processes. Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno assert film is an oppressive technology that makes us intellectually docile, while Walter Benjamin contests their assertion by recognizing film s liberatory potential. Although Horkheimer and Adorno make important points about the current relationship between film and the masses, they fail to acknowledge any possible changes to it. In theRead MoreCulture is a Mean of Social Control: Theodor Adorno998 Words   |  4 PagesTheodor Adorno is a representative of the Frankfurt School of Sociology, where the main theories and ideas were influenced by Karl Marx’s work. His main idea that the society is simply divided by a base-superstructure model and that the economy influences everything from religion to politics, referred to as economic determinism, is challenged by Adorno’s thought. Therefore, the Frankfurt school is part of the neo-Marxist approach as they interpret and add new things in Marx’s ideas. The fundamentalRead MoreEssay On Digital Space1252 Words   |  6 Pagesforms of mass communication develop. The emergence of the entertainment industry exploded and sought to create profit through the production and distribution of cultural products. Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer critically engaged with these new cultural conditions by assessing the ways television, radio and film had been increasingly commodified and was, in their estimation, a medium for capitalist ideological domination. They argued that, â€Å"the whole world is made to pass through the cultureRead MoreHow Characteristics Of Culture Maintain Capitalist Society1664 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of this paper is to examine how characte ristics of culture maintain capitalist society. I will be using Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s The culture industry: enlightenment as mass deception, as the backbone of my analysis. This will be accomplished by assessing aspects of society such as: monopoly capitalism, the entertainment industry and relevance to modern day society. This paper argues that capitalism transformed culture into an ideological means of domination, and acts as brainwashingRead MoreThe Rings of Saturn by W.G. Sebald1335 Words   |  5 Pagesrealities of modern human history. Sebald’s critcism tends to focus on the biographical and psychological backgrounds of the writers he mentions. He draws heavily on the canon of twentieth-century Marxist thought, including works from Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer. His complex thesis draws specifically on their work The Dialectic of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that spread through Europe during the eighteenth centu ry, which involved a radical change in the way thatRead MoreCulture and Creative Industry Week 1 Essay2403 Words   |  10 PagesKey thinkers: Marx, Gramsci, Adorno, Horkheimer, Benjamin Seminar questions 1.Has the mechanical reproduction of art opened up possibilities of a more democratic appreciation, or merely reduced it to the status of a commodity? 2.Has ‘the Culture Industry’ killed ‘High Culture’? Walter Benjamin (1936) The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/benjamin.htm Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer (1944) The Culture Industry:Read MoreHow the ‘Culture Industry’ had Profound Social Impacts in Society2017 Words   |  9 PagesTheodore Adorno and Max Horkheimer were two renowned Jewish representatives of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory; they were particularly dominant during the early 20th century, approximately around the time of the 1920’s to 1960s. They took refuge in America after Adolf Hitler’s rise in Germany. These to philosophers developed the ‘Culture Industry Theory’ in the 1940s, in light of the disturbed society they had seen during this time. They witnessed how Nazi Fascism used mass media such asRead MoreCulture Industry : Enlightenment As Mass Deception2421 Words   |  10 PagesKultureindustrie. Aufklà ¤rung als Massenbetrug, otherwise known as Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception was a chapter from Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s Dialects of Enlightenment. They wrote this essay in the early 40â₠¬â„¢s, expostulating the thriving force of the entertainment industry, the merchandizing of art and arguing against the conformity of â€Å"culture†. The importance of the Dialects of Enlightenment became an significant cornerstone on the meticulous renunciation of creating

The Mythology Of The Ancient Greeks - 2537 Words

In the Ancient Greeks, religion was based on the image of remarkable and memorable god and goddess which were powerful, wise, immortal and controlled different part of the universe. For many years humans had the opportunity to study these significant figures by reading their myths, stories where our minds are transported to the early time of civilization in which the god and goddess lived and became the important figures that we know nowadays. One of the god that make himself stand out using his wisdom and his abilities was Hermes. He is the god of trade, travelers, thieves, athletes, border crossing, guide to the Underworld and often known as the messenger of the gods. While many gods are incredible gifted with strength and power, Hermes represents cleverness, determination and a powerful musician. The birth of Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, represents his abilities as a powerful musician by his creation of a lyre within seconds after he was born. His mother, Maia gave birth to him in a cave on the Mount Cyllene in Arcadia and he was nursed by the nymph Cyllene. The precious baby, became very loved and respected by all the gods in the Mount Olympus. Like Heracles, Hermes showed his abilities as a god really fast, when he escaped from the cave he was born and invented the lyre. He develop a plan as soon as he saw a turtle when he was wandering from the cave. His imagination got expanded when he saw the turtle and with his genuinely laugh said: Here s a bit of luck [2] IShow MoreRelatedMythology : Ancient Greek Mythology1527 Words   |  7 PagesMythology is a vast collection of made up/fake stories told during the Ancient Greek era. That is what we are told at young age growing up learning about Greek Gods and Goddesses like Zeus and Hercules. But actually the mythology comes fr om the word myth which is a Greek word for speech or discourse, but later adapted the meaning of fable or legend (Doyle, 2015).The traditional stories, poems, literature, and art have been passed down for years. The stories about Gods and Goddesses, heroes, and monstersRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Mythology1630 Words   |  7 PagesGreek mythology denotes to the myths of the early Greeks, Greece gods, and mythical creatures. While pertaining to these legends and myths includes; to their Gods, the nature and heroes, tales of clashes, and of their adventures. It is also a brief on the origin and connotation of their cult, and the innumerable practices that remained shadowed by them. Myth is defined as; a traditional, typically historic story pertaining to mystic beings, descendants, or heroes that serve an essential kind in theRead MoreAncient Greek And Greek Mythology Essay865 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, fo ur legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves. ― Plato, The Symposium Everybody has naturally experienced love, whether it was for a family member, a friend, a pet, a significant other, or even themselves. But exactly what is love and why does it naturally happen? Though love is an easy word to sayRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greeks1835 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction: The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and heroes during their time. Each one had a sole purpose in a mortal’s lifetime. Greek mythology had a huge impact on religion in Ancient Greece. The Greeks performed rituals in order to honor their gods. Mythology affected the Ancient Greeks in many ways. The origins of mythology, the influences of mythology through a human’s lifetime and lessons taught in the ancient myths will be examined. Why Greek mythology was created Greek mythology was createdRead MoreThe Mythology Of The Ancient Greeks2119 Words   |  9 Pagesand idols to answer prayers or requests. The ancient Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses, which they saw as ruling over many functions of their daily lives: such as love, crops, water, wisdom, and warfare. â€Å"The ancient Greeks lived by myths, fables, and teachings, which developed as oral stories during the Bronze Age. The most popular first known written poet is Homer who wrote ‘Iliad and the Odyssey’ in the 8th century.† There are so many Greek myths, gods, goddesses, and mythical creaturesRead MoreGreek Mythology And The Ancient Greek History935 Words   |  4 PagesThis destination was chosen not only for its incomparable natural beauty, but because it is a magical place, full of discoveries, charm and secrets. I have always been interested in the ancient Greek history. The first time I learned about Greek mythology was in middle school. I enjoyed lea rning about the Greek Gods such as Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon, the tales would amaze me. Even watching the historical document and movies that recreate the Gods, pursued my interest more. So I wanted to travelRead MoreWomen Of Ancient Greek Mythology Essay1535 Words   |  7 Pagesregarded as the subservient gender, an idea that was no different in Ancient Greece. Throughout Greek mythology, women were considered inferior and troublesome symbols, while men were known for courage, leadership, and strength. While there is no argument of the flagrant sexism that is illustrated in Greek mythology, it can also be claimed that women were given a situated position of freedom, necessity, and power as well. Many popular Greek plays and myths contain several complexes and well described femaleRead MoreGreek Mythology Of Ancient Greece1551 Words   |  7 Pagesof the many wonders Ancient Greece had to offer. However, one of the most memorable creations of Ancient Greece would have to be Gree k mythology. These myths included hundreds of stories and teachings that would have a lasting effect on Greek culture for centuries to come. When taking a deeper look into some of these myths, one may notice gender and sexual behavior to be themes that occur quite frequently. One also cannot help but notice that some social conditions in Ancient Greece, such as theRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece1322 Words   |  6 Pages Greek Mythology is a mystical and unique universe filled with divine beings, semi-gods, oracles, monsters, creatures, heroes, women and powerful gods with the ability to control nature, all intertwined in epic battles controlled by various times on a gigantic stage composed of temples, shines, prophecies, rituals and even a word for the dead which was called the underworld. Greek mythology itself is legend. In fact, it shows a window into the ancient past, a view of a world that existed not onlyRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece963 Words   |  4 PagesWhen people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. â€Å"In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.† (â€Å"Greek Mythology.†) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are

Discuss the role of genes and hormones in gender development free essay sample

Gender refers to the social, psychology and behavioural aspects of being male or female. In other words, masculinity or femininity, however this is different from Sex, which is the biological fact of being male or female. This is normally identified by chromosomes and genitalia. The hundred of genes we have in our 23 pairs of chromosomes carry information about our physical and behavioural characteristics. The sex chromosomes are thought to determine biological sex. There is usually a direct link between chromosomal sex and external genitalia and the internal genitalia. Gene abnormalities can lead to problems in gender development. Kleinefelters syndrome occurs when a foetus possesses an extra X chromosome in addition to the normal male XY. They will develop as a normal male but in puberty the extra chromosome prompts the development of female attributes such as breasts, and also means the individual is infertile. Turner’s syndrome results in an individual being born with a single X chromosome and they are called XO individuals. They are born with female genitalia but ovarian development is irregular and they are also infertile. They may also lack secondary sexual characteristics, and as a result may feel like incomplete females and can cause gender role confusion. Both of these conditions demonstrates the importance of genetics in healthy development. However, a criticism of saying that defects in genes can cause gender role confusion and lead to problems in gender development comes from Willerman. He suggests that we should not expect too much of genetics differences between males and females because they share 45 out of 46 chromosomes and the Y chromosome carries the least amount of genetic information. Although this is true, chromosomes only initially determine sex, hormones govern most of gender development. Hormones are produced in the womb and there is a surge of testosterone during puberty which lead to the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Women and men produce sex hormones in different amounts. These hormones influence the functioning of bodily organs, for example oestrogen is involved in breast development and menstruation, testosterone is involved in muscle growth, voice change and body hair. Quandagno et al (1977) supports this looked at the effect of testosterone of brain development in animals. They found that female monkeys who had been deliberately exposed to testosterone during pre-natal development later engaged in more rough and tumble play, and were more aggressive than other female monkeys. Therefore this suggests, that the exposure to testosterone in the womb, lead to the development of a masculinised brain. A strength of this research was that they were able to deliberately manipulate hormone levels during fetal development, which means we can make statements about cause and effect. However, the research could be described as reductionist because it assumes that gender development is equivalent in monkeys and humans. Care must be taken when generalizing to humans because humans are more self-aware, can control their behaviour and how they are viewed by others, so that they act in accordance with social norms, and this raises the nature-nurture debate, i. e behaviour in humans in likely to involve both hormones and social factors. A problem that we have is that it would be difficult to replicate this research as it is now considered unethical, therefore this raises questions of the validity of the research, because we cannot replicate it. Hormones influence the development of genitalia and can also affect brain development. Some individual are exposed to abnormal hormone levels in the womb. This can lead to inter sex conditions. Congential Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) occurs when a normal XX female feotus is exposed to abnormally high levesls of the hormone Cortisol. This results in enlarged female genitalia. This may lead to the female being labelled male at birth and the true sex may not be identified until puberty. These individuals often identify themselves as male and behave in a stereotypically male way, for example rough play and preference for male activities and dress. Research has shown that some sufferers of CAH do accept the sex that is assigned to them at birth. However, the label and sex of rearing is not accepted by all and some opt for gender reassignment. It has been shown that once diagnosed, CAH can be treated with hormone therapy. This has led to successful gender realignment. This suggests that a simple cause and effect relationship between hormones and gender is unlikely. There is no simple formula for predicting gender and it seems to be an unpredictable combination of genes, sex of rearing and socialisation. In other words, gender is formed through a combination of a complex interaction between nurture and nature. Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is caused by dysfunctional androgen receptors which prevent the male from developing male genitalia. In many cases when the testes start to produce testosterone the lack of functional androgen receptors means that the body continues to develop along female lines. These males appear to be female as birth and therefore wrongly assigned a female identity. Evidence from AIS was carried out using a case study of Mrs DW. At puberty she developed no pubic hair, she didn’t menstruate but she did develop breasts. It was discovered that she had AIS but she chose to live an active life as a woman. She adopted two children and is married. This suggests that maybe the sex of rearing was more influential in her gender development than genes and hormones. In contrast, another case study suggests the opposite. A rare case was reported in the Dominican Republic by Imperato and McGinley 1979. The Batista family had 4 children who were presumed female at first and were raised as girls. At puberty, the production of androgens caused male genitalia to appear. It seems that these individuals accepted their change of sex without too much difficulty. This finding seems to contradict the case of Mrs DW. This may be because the Batista children never took on the feminine role because other relatives have the same condition and they expected to become boys in puberty. It could also be argued that gender is a social construction rather than an objective reality. In the Dominican Republic, the people seem to have a more flexible view of masculinity and femininity which would enable individuals to express aspects of their identity which would be more difficult in the West where thinking about gender is more rigid. This view seems to contradict the biological explanation. This evidence is not drawn from a normal population. These are exceptional cases and their experience of gender development may not be representative of the normal population. In other words intersex individuals may be more vulnerable to social influences than normal individuals because they have to search harder for information about gender identity. Therefore we must take care when extrapolating from these cases about any conclusions about the validity of the biological approach in gender development. The David Reimer case study suggests that people are not flexible. We are not neutral at birth and despite being raised for 10 or 12 years as a girl, he couldn’t accept that he was a girl. David went on the Oprah Winfrey show and accused Money of making his childhood, humiliating miserable and confusing. Evidence seems to suggest he’s wrong, such as building loopholes, and the gate was closing; the argument that psychology is a pseudoscience. If gender roles are determined by biology, can the biological approach explain change in social roles e. g. womens roles. If we are biologically suited to a certain role there is no reason for change. Male brains are different to female brain, for example girls appear to be better at social skills and males seem to have better awareness. It has been suggested that these difference could be caused by the effects of testosterone on the developing brain leading to a masculinised brain. The biological approach is a reductionist approach because it can explain the way men and women act in terms of the genes and hormones. It suggests that We are victims of our biology, however this is not true in terms of the gender we choose to be, especially for those that are born with or develop genetic or hormonal defects.

Teachings of Hebrew Wisdom

The Bible covers all aspects of human life. Christians always refer to the teachings in the Bible when coming up with their decisions. The book of Proverbs covers the teachings of Hebrew wisdom on contemporary issues such as relationships, marriage, wealth, family, and self-control (Hindson, 2003).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Teachings of Hebrew Wisdom specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Solomon, the author of the book, associates diligence with terms such as riches, abundance, busy, power, and wisdom (Yates Hindson, 2012). In the book of Proverbs, Solomon contrasts diligence with laziness under several circumstances. The book presents wisdom as the best virtue. In the book, Solomon illustrates that folly is as an act of making uninformed decisions. According to him, a foolish person is aware of the advantages of making wise decisions, but always chooses to ignore and makes imprudent choices. All through the bo ok of Proverbs, connections between diligence and laziness have been highlighted. The book of proverbs differentiates diligence from laziness. Equally, the book differentiates wisdom from folly. In Proverbs 6:6-8, Solomon makes a clear contrast between diligence and laziness while depicting the difference between wise and folly. In the book, Solomon states, â€Å"Ants do not have a ruler or a commander yet they collect enough food in summer† (Rapids, 2002). Here, ants are depicted as diligent creatures since they collect food without being forced by a commander. Solomon implies that the ants collect food with no supervision because they are diligent. Equally, the scripture illustrates that ants are wise because they know that food is plenty in the summer and not in winter. On proverbs 26:14, diligence is contrasted with laziness (Rapids, 2002). In this verse, Solomon asserts that a sluggish person sleeps in bed when he or she is supposed to be working. The sluggard is compare d to a door hinge, which works only under the force of the person closing or opening the door. In this verse, the sluggard person has been contrasted with productive ants who work tirelessly during summer. The sluggard sleeping individual vividly illustrates the opposite of diligent person. The verse portrays sluggard persons as fools because they opt to stay in bed instead of working to earn a living.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another aspect of human life that depicts the contrast between diligence and laziness is the aspirations and dreams in life. The verse that supports these Hebrew teachings is proverbs 21:25 (Rapids, 2002). In the verse, Solomon states that a person’s dreams are only achieved through hard work and diligence. He affirms that it is not possible to dream of big things and hope to realize it with no efforts put in place. In the scenario, he emp hasizes that a sluggard person’s dream will never be fulfilled because they spend their days in bed instead of working. In the same verse, Solomon teaches that lazy people are not diligent. He contrasts their laziness with the ants’ diligence and wise decisions. He states that ants benefit from their wisdom and diligence, while the sluggard persons are faced with a series of failures due to their laziness and foolish behaviors. There are several other verses Proverbs that support the teachings of wisdom, diligence, laziness, and folly as illustrated in the Hebrew customs. For instance, Proverbs 13:14 and 12:5 illustrates that a diligent person is abundantly rich (Rapids, 2002). The diligent person never lacks the resources in life. The person is able to make the right decisions towards achieving dreams and aspirations of life. Proverbs 12:11 points out clearly that any person who works in the land gets plenty of food, unlike the lazy person. The verse emphasizes on the importance of being diligent. Diligent persons are always diligent and spend their time amassing resources. Therefore, they always reap abundant harvest. Another scenario where a diligent person is depicted to have rewards in contrast with lazy and folly person is illustrated in Proverbs 31:27 and 12:24 (Rapids, 2002). The verses clearly state that diligent individuals who never associate themselves with the idlers always find themselves in the leadership positions. In addition, the verses maintain that the hand of the diligent person rules. Through the verses, the book of Proverbs affirms that diligent persons have several rewards compared to the lazy individuals, as demonstrated in various circumstances. The book as referred the lazy individuals with phrases such as poverty-stricken, shame, lack of satisfaction and lack of sense. The book associates these situations with lazy and folly individuals. Conventionally, society perceives laziness with shame and sees it as the main caus e of poverty. Families faced with poverty always make foolish decisions. As such, they engage in alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and poor budgeting. The above actions depict that they lack wisdom and diligence required for any individual to succeed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Teachings of Hebrew Wisdom specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In conclusion, it should be noted that the teachings of Hebrew wisdom show that diligence involves working hard to achieve our goals, while laziness is illustrated as an act of being sluggish with no efforts of achieving something. The book of Proverbs presents diligence as being aware of everything. On the other hand, being folly is illustrated as being ignorant of important issues in life. Generally, the book shows that diligence has rewards while laziness has negative consequences. References Hindson, E. E. (2003). Courageous faith: life lessons from Old Testament heroes. Chattanooga, Tenn.: AMG Publishers. Rapids, M. (2002). Holy Bible: King James Version.. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. Yates, G., Hindson, E. E. (2012). The Essence of the Old Testament: a survey. Nashville, Tenn.: B H Academic. This essay on Teachings of Hebrew Wisdom was written and submitted by user Skyler Miles to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.