Pornography as culture industry

Gilad Padva

pp. 1-16

in: UWE H. Bittlingmayer, Alex Demirović, Tatjana Freytag (eds), Handbuch kritische Theorie, Berlin, Springer, 2019

Abstract

Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno distinguish between the "ascetic and shameless' works of art and the "pornographic and prudish" culture industry. This essay problematizes diverse contemporary ideological attitudes towards the "adult entertainment" and its interrelations with ruthless neo-liberal objectification of human bodies and minds, sexual emancipation and freedom of speech. This essay negotiates Horkheimer, Adorno and Herbert Marcuseʼs critical terminology in its reconsideration of different patriarchal, feminist and queer perspectives on commodified eroticism and pornography.

Cited authors

Marcuse Herbert

Horkheimer Max

Adorno Theodor