ADORNO AND REALITY TELEVISION

GROUP 1 1576 GPPC 1:00-2:00 MWF D405

Theodor W. Adorno
- A German philosopher, sociologist, psychologist and composer known for his critical
theory of society
- Born in Frankfurt, Germany but moved in America to escape the Nazi party.

Television
- as a cultural and domestic technology. (Raymond Williams' 1974 book)
- A pernicious device through which to ‘waste time’(Silverstone,1994)

A major component of the mass culture industry and, through its dominant programmes,
representing an ideological force that serves the needs and interests of capitalism. (Raymond
Williams' 1974 book)
- Product of mass culture

ADORNOS’ CRITICAL APPROACH

- focused on the ways in which capitalist values had spread to areas beyond those
articulated in Marx's work.
Mass Culture
• a culture that is commoditized, marketed, and standardized akin to products created on
the assembly line of factory.
• It is for universal consumption
Chosen examples of examined popular culture in music and television (reality TV talent shows)
- POP IDOL/AMERICAN IDOL
- X FACTOR

Key Characteristic of mass culture in the 20th century

• SAMENESS

Role of culture in Western capitalist societies

• To impose a pervasive brand of uniformity through its primary modes of mass products
such as Cinema, Radio, and Magazines.
• All mass is identical
Mass culture products:
• source of capitalist revenue
• an alternative 'opium of the people'
• Ex.
• POPULAR MUSIC

It is 'trash' Thus, demanding and 'authentic' musical forms, such as Jazz, are downgraded
and marginalized in favour of the simple and predictable.(Adorno)
• Ex.
• POPULAR MUSIC

It is 'trash' Thus, demanding and 'authentic' musical forms, such as Jazz, are downgraded
and marginalized in favour of the simple and predictable.(Adorno)

Effect of the consumption of this music is Decisive (Adorno)

• Continual production of such formulaic sounds.
• Standardization- down to number of beats per minute.

Adorno concludes: 'Regressive listeners behave like children. Again and again and with the
stubborn malice, they demand the one dish that they have once been served'.

IDEOLOGICAL POWER OF THE MASS CULTURE INDUSTRY:

• Inculcated into worldview of capitalism and cultural products
• Demand for formulaic music; expecting a procession of similarity and rejecting
innovative musical forms.

ADORNO AND THE NATURE OF MASS CULTURE

Significant Ways on how capitalism corrupts and degrades us
• LEISURE TIME BECOMES TOXIC

Leisure time
 it is not to relax and take one's mind of things
 free time should be our prime priority to develop ourselves, acquire tools to change
society.

THE CULTURE INDUSTRY

• compose of modern films, tv, radio, magazines, and social media
• Ex.
• NEWS
 • CINEMA
• POP MUSIC
• CULTURE INDUSTRY - keep us distracted, confused and a bit intimidated

CAPITALISM
• doesn't sell us the things we really need
• CAPITALIST INDUSTRY
• forgetting what are truly needed
• settle for desires manufactured without any interest
Ex.
• ADVERTISING
CONSUMERISM
• advertising, art as a product for sale
• MEDIA
• an old formula being recycled over and over
Ex.
• LOVE STORY

HIGH CULTURE
• authentic, intellectual, original, and stimulating
LOW CULTURE
• predictable, generic, simplified, consumer based and repetitive
MASS CULTURE > LOW CULTURE
PROGRESSIVE CONSUMPTION
• only work if the audience is passive and the producers
• maintain control of the behavior and the market place
REGRESSIVE CONSUMPTION
• relationship that is based of manipulation

ADORNO, REALITY TV AND TALENT TELEVISION

Reality TV
• new form of television at the turn of the twenty-first century
Candid Camera
• filmed people using hidden camera for comic effect
Pinoy Big Brother
• Interactive reality TV show
• Where housemates are monitored with cameras 24 hours a day.

PINOY BIG BROTHER HOUSE

PBB HOUSEMATES
AMERICAN IDOL
• the show seeks to find solo performer who will be awarded a recording contract
• dominates rating
• Predicated on the individualized achievement of fantasy life
• Prime example of contemporary ‘synergy’

Some of The American Idol Winners:

• Kelly Clarkson
• Ruben Studdard
• Carrie Underwood
• David Cook
• Kris Allen
FILIPINO PRIDES WHO JOINED AMERICAN IDOL:
• Jessica Sanchez
• Jasmine Trias
• Camille Velasco
• Ramiele Malubay

PINOY IDOL
• 2008 Philippine television interactive reality-based singing competition show broadcast
by GMA Network.
• a franchise of Pop Idol created by British entertainment executive Simon Fuller, the show
is the second incarnation of Philippine Idol.
 • Hosted by Raymond Gutierrez, with Ogie Alcasid (singer, songwriter, and record
producer), Jolina Magdangal (singer and actress), and Wyngard Tracy (retired talent
manager) as judges

THE X FACTOR
• developed to succeed ‘Pop Idol’
• Constitutes something of a ‘revolution’ within the music world

FILIPINO PRIDES/CONTESTANTS:
• Bella Santiago
• Irene Cercado
• Almira Cercado
• Celina Mercado
• Mylene Cercado

ADORNO
• The repetitiveness, selfsameness and the ubiquity of modern mass culture tend to make
for automatized reactions and to weaken the forces of individual resistance.
• Not all music consumers are passive victims of the contemporary mass culture industry.
GROUP 1 1576 GPPC 1:00-2:00 MWF D405

Adorno and Reality Telivision

1. Baluyot, Sebastian M. – Leader & Reporter

2. Monang, Terrence John P. – Reporter
3. Arquiza, Donna Jane B. - Summarized the Report.
4. Castillo, Joyce A. - Summarized the Report.
5. Duclan, Gillian Chloe – Makes the Power point Presentation
6. Lune, Ylysa Marie – Summarized the Report.
7. Negrillo, Mariell Jane - Makes the Power point Presentation
8. Romero, Chiara Jen – Save and Downloads the Videos.
9. Visperas, Charie F. – Makes the Quiz Questions & Hard Copy of
Report.
NAME: ________________________________________ DATE:____________
SCHDL:___________________________ INSTRUCTOR:____________________

I. Identification
Write A if American Idol/Pinoy Idol, write B if PBB and write C if X Factor.
_____ 1. Kim Chui
_____ 2. Jessica Sanchez
______3. MelaSon
_____ 4. Bella Santiago
_____ 5. Kelly Clarkson

II. True or False

_______ 6. All mass is identical.
_______ 7. Media is an old formula being recycled over and over.
_______ 8.High culture is predictable and generic.

9-10 Full Name of the Author of this Social Theory

NAME: ________________________________________ DATE:____________

SCHDL:___________________________ INSTRUCTOR:____________________

I. Identification
Write A if American Idol/Pinoy Idol, write B if PBB and write C if X Factor.
_____ 1. Kim Chui
_____ 2. Jessica Sanchez
______3. MelaSon
_____ 4. Bella Santiago
_____ 5. Kelly Clarkson

II. True or False

_______ 6. All mass is identical.
_______ 7. Media is an old formula being recycled over and over.
_______ 8.High culture is predictable and generic.

9-10 Full Name of the Author of this Social Theory