SOCIOLOGY - Theodor Adorno 

Michel Foucault: I'm not saying everything is bad, I'm saying everything is dangerous... Theodor Adorno: I AM saying everything is bad.

We need an episode on Antonio Gramsci!

Hilariously ends with "Go to our shop"

Theodor Adorno was a German-born philosopher (part of the Frankfurt School) and heavy critic of capitalism. 1) Our free time is an opportunity to grow as humans, but we are distracted by popular media. 2) What we really want is not what is sold, but our desires are bent and guided toward materialistic values 3) Our adult issues are boiled down to deeply rooted psychological problems that could have been handled back then but have been growing since. This led to the creation of the F-scale (Fascism)

The claim (point number three in this video) that Adorno believed political tendencies like fascism have origins in individual psychology is an incorrect characterization of Adorno's work. While Adorno was one of four authors of "The Authoritarian Personality", which suggests among many other things the idea that an individual's psychology can be explanatory and/or causative of their politics, his own published and unpublished writings from the time demonstrate that he disagreed with his colleagues on this point. (The recent piece "The Authoritarian Personality Revisited: Reading Adorno in the Age of Trump" by Peter E. Gordon goes into this in great detail.) Adorno himself articulated a much more complex and radical idea that I can crudely sum up as something like "individual psychology is so strongly influenced by societal and political pressures, and the 'culture industry' as he named it, that it is possibly more accurate to see psychology as proceeding from society than the other way around." Or perhaps in other words "fascism creates fascists, rather than vice versa," but as I said, it's a good deal more complicated than that.

It's lucky that Adorno lived at the time he did, he wouldn't be very happy to see how much of our time is wasted on social media today, would he? Add to that our obsession with celebrity culture and the Kardashians... I really love his ideas though, and the Frankfurt school, they feel quite important in this day and age.

Wow, this is so much better than other "ideas" channels out there on RU-vid. Not only do you explain without exaggeration, you have a good pace of speech with short breaks that allow me to start thinking about the insights and limitations of Adorno's thought for myself. It's a very well-considered approach.

My sick mind cannot help but find the bitter irony of a Walmart commercial showing the connectedness of a lovely family, just before seeing a video about Theodor Adorno.

Me:"Hey, Boss, can I have Friday off? I need to 'acquire the tools to change society' " Boss: "Denied." Me: "Aaaaahdoooorrrnoooooooo!"

It is kind of strange that the Marxist grounds of Adorno's criticism are not mentioned.

in fact I spend my leisure time watching this video to cultivate my mind

Please make a more clips on Frankfurt school thinkers like Habermas, Marcuse, and Horkheimer.

*"We should learn to understand the psychology of everyday insanity from the earliest moments"* Love this ^^

Walt Disney is Peter Baelish, and Adorno is Varys. :D

I'm getting a big A Brave New World feel from this.

I just want to give my compliments to the one(s) who provide(s) the illustrations to what is being narrated. I think it is really effective, vivid, humorous at times and does not distract the listener too much on what is being said, it rather complements the message rather well. Thanks!

This one was extremely well-done and clear. Thank you.

This is one of the best channels out there.. So, very insightful..

I'm loving that a partnership has developed between The School of Life and Wisecrack. They are my two favorite RU-vid channels.

I fall in love with this channel, and I definitely agree with Adorno's views and way of thinking... OHJ I get so excited watching this videos , Thanks a lot for existing! and for your work and time to deliver us this precious information!

thank you so much for this. You guys are doing something unique here that should receive more praise. Im writing from Lima, Perú. Cheers and keep up the good ideas.

This is really great stuff, thank you so much for making this! I studied psychology as an undergraduate and through my travels and further studies, I kept catching glimpses of the issues that you are unpacking here and but just could not put it all together in a neat and understandable big picture concepts yet. This is really helping me process and understand my experiences and also verbalize and tell the stories to others. & Now I have a whole new list of books that I am itching to read thanks to you guys too!

Thanks for such a good introductory video of Adorno, it has definitely prompted me to read up on his works.

Haha! It's nice to see you supporting Wisecrack as you two are some of the most interesting channels on here right now.

I love your videos, and hats off to Alain de Botton for lending his calm and smooth voice to make it all even cooler! Please make a video about Arthur Schopenhauer! :) thanks!

THIS VIDEO IS SPOT ON.

This has been one of my favorite School Of Life videos. Thank you!

Very well done, you manage to capture complex ideas in a straightforward way.

Will there be a future video on Antonio Gramsci?

More Sociology please! These are amazing.

The School of Life is so amazing...thank your great videos!

I truly enjoyed this simple but extremely informative video. I had looked into some other ones that just made no sense, too complicated or just way too long. Thank you for such great information, it makes my school assignment much easier to complete.

Most useful summary I found to this matter so far!

"Calmy furious." Genius.

It's so funny because is inscribed to this channel due to wisecrack's recommendation. This is one of the best channels I've come across on RU-vid. So much quality content in such a short space of time. This I feel is what RU-vid was created for.

There is no price for this kind of videos. Thank you.

Adorno was not "very much against television", as the description puts it, but emphatically tried to point out its potential, not only in terms of its educational benefits, which, as he emphasized, should certainly be taken into account, but also the danger that it could be misused to propagate ideologies, especially considering its content being produced as well as received in such an uncontrolled manner and under societal circumstances that may not have changed as substantially as the technical innovation alone might suggest to an audience. He believed that one would have to learn how to watch television in order not to fall for its repressive temptations, and that these risks were not so much inherent to the technology itself, but rather to certain regressive modes of thinking. In a conversation about education and TV which was broadcast on radio 1963 (and later published), he said that "I am not, as I have been repeatedly accused of being, an opponent of television per se. Moreover, I would not have taken part in television programs in the first place if I were. Rather, I am suspicious of the widespread use made of television because I believe that television, at least in many of its forms, helps to spread ideologies and to direct the consciousness of the people who watch it in an untrue way. I would be the last to deny that the medium of television has tremendous potential, especially in terms of education and the dissemination of enlightening information." (Please note that this is my own translation and may likely differ from any professional one, of which I unfortunately couldn't find any online.) Also, for further information, see his work "How to Look at Television", which he wrote while in exile in the USA.

Number one sounds like the Combine from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

I don't understand why this channel doesn't have more subscribers. Great work, folks. Keep it up!

I just love the way in which pictures move.

Thank you! Habermas next please.

That "sickness" of the mind is dissatisfaction, it's the essence of our intellectual and societal ascension. It seems we have an innate motive for progress, the individual's dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction arrises from considering "what could be", it is individually detrimental but beneficial to all. Those who pursue greater understanding, traded much of the time for thinking and learning for the benefit of all man-kind but to the detriment of their own lives. Those who are not remembered probably lived happier, more content lives than anybody we know from history. Ignorance is bliss.

You're videos are simply awesome! I have used some of them in my class :) Thank you!

These ideas and critics are amazing and observable

One of the best (if not THE best) channels on RU-vid! Thanks for everything you provide us. Almost at one million subscribers, but you deserve far more. Thanks again.

I was relieved to find a discourse on the man's actual ideas instead of the accusations he was bent on turning humanity into an orwellian anthill

Thank you for spreading these valuable lessons

Great Work. Most appreciating.

One of the most genuine and well-interpreted videos of this channel.Thank you Alain de Botton.

0:50 The Frankfurt School in California 2:00 culture industry 3:20 we are sold things we don't need 4:44 proto-fascist detection questionnaire

Keep on doing what you do, you guys are awesome! Greetings from Germany!

The hint that the culture industry is alive and kicking in the form of modern advertisements is a point well put. I smiled at that point.

Most people here really don't get it and probably have never even attempted to read adorno, obviously don't speak german so they can`t listen to the interviews etc. on RU-vid. I say that because a lot of those bold statements like the one about Disney are completely out of context.. I admit that his language could be called "elitist" - he was a real scientist and spoke like that which can be a pain in the a.. But his ideas are really the complete opposite of "elitist". I don`t think he was a moralist in the sense that some people here think and wanted everyone to play the chello in the evenings with candlelight and occasional imrovised poems in all languages. I THINK he simply saw that if the majority of people were a little bit more thoughtful, and would think more about the things that they are told ("orders"), things that happened then couldn't have happened like they did! And that`s still true today..

This channel is super. Even the color choice for the animation is inviting. Keep it up.

Superb video ! Thank you so much for your work.

YESSS! I remember requesting you guys do a vid on him. Thanks, made my night.

What an insight. I often wonder why people follow certain trends and consume in similar ways. Too some degree people are competing with one another working a job they most probably dislike for crap they don't need. They're buying thoughtlessness, a temporary distraction, a quick fix in hope that it will give them what they need. When what we want is community, love and freedom from worry, be it financial, health or whatever and companionship. Very good as always keep them coming :)

Hello, School of Life! I wanted know if you've done a Sociology video on Jane Addams? I did a report on her for my 11th grade sociology class, but even if I did the research, it was hard for me to understand what she actually stood for in Sociology. I wanted to get a better understanding, and your videos help me out a whole lot! (plus, they're very well done anyway) If you haven't, she might be an interesting study! Keep up the great content! It'd be awesome to see her!

As we shelter in place, Adorno's writings have a disturbing yet incontrovertible, and inspiring relevance.

Thank you so much! I just won't have time to read all these fantastic minds!

1:15 - Chapter 1 - Leisure time becomes toxic 3:25 - Chapter 2 - Capitalism doesn't sell us the things we really need 4:50 - Chapter 3 - There are proto fascists everywhere

What a great video, I love learning about this type of stuff. Thank you!

wow you guys have saved the Earth with this video, I see what has to be done thanks to you

Beautiful Adorno!!

Alain, your work helps me greatly to become a better person. I still read philosophy because of you and it helps tremendously with everyday confusion, anxiety, and depression. Please never wonder if your work genuinely helps readers/viewers: We need the timeless philosophies now more than ever before and your concise exposition of these complex work makes it accessible to people like myself. I've followed your work since your book on "The Consolations" and am so inspired to see nearly 6 Million subscribers to a philosophy RU-vid channel! You're (modestly) doing something great for humanity and I thank you: I mean that very sincerely.

thank you for your great work! keep up! Don't stop. we are tired of trivial videos! yours help ppl's mind advance and prosper. bless you!

This is a great video on him. Its concise and very easily understood. I had no idea who he was. I had to find out who he was because he was mentioned in another video by Dr John Coleman. Now that I know who he is, I can see he was right about much of his conclusions. Thank you.

School of Life explains the idea of different theories very well.

Do a video about Levi Strauss

Alain de Botton PLEASE make a video about EDWARD BERNAYS! :) thanks

great revision tool for my a-level sociology mass media exam Thank you for posting :)

Calmly, furious. I love it.

adorno is my spirit animal!!

Great video. I hadn't even heard of this guy before. I'd agree absolutely with what is said but I also think that the public/majority enjoy our vacuous culture. Look at the internet, there are wonderful thought provoking things everywhere but still the most popular videos are pranks or animals or terrible accidents. So is it a violent and self interested capitalist culture that is responsible or is it really what people want? Also are you planning to do a video on Gramsci? He seems quite similar but difficult to understand. Thanks.

Such a good work!!!! I would love to watch a video of yours about Z.Bauman...One of the greatest sociologists of our century! Thank you so much!

A great man, fantastic and insightful thought!

Great left wing thinker! I'm a sociology major and I take much inspiration from Adorno as well as other prominent sociologists. Many of Adorno's theories and ideas are more true today than ever before. I firmly believe that if he were with us to this day, he would be utterly disgusted with the evolution of the United States, and the rest of the world, and the direction its headed in.

You should put a little bibliography of the author, not only the video itself.

Thank you very much.

ANother very well done and super enjoyable video from the School of Life.

The problem with Adorno's way of thinking - especially the second point, "Capitalism doesn't sell us the things we really need" - is the assumption that there's a human being with so much knowleadge/wisdom that he's able to tell us the things we REALLY should want, and this ALWAYS leads to a dictatorship. Who's able to tell me what I should want? That's a rather difficult task. People should always be able to choose for themselves, even if these decisions are stupid, their stupidity must be respected, that's what maintains freedom. Search for "The Road to Serfdom", by Hayek, he says a lot about this.

There almost seem to be two 'versions' of Adorno. In several other documentaries about the Frankfurt School he is associated with Marcuse and others as an anarchitect of cultural marxism, and its deliberate undermining of western culture.

Beautiful!

This really helps. Thank you very much! :)

How very true that our minds are sick! That's why early diagnosis and prevention are very important. I think the causes are mainly those " unthought thoughts " and " undigested hurts" that Alain is talking about in his great guide for " Philosophical Meditation". We should really never be "that sure" about our goodness. It may as well be that we haven't really been "tried" yet. One of my heroes is Joshua Oppenheimer who directed that incredible documentary called " The act of killing" which won many awards . I recommend everyone at least to watch one interview with Oppenheimer about it . He is such a wise, gentle and beautiful person! He had spent a decade of his life for that documentary, talking to murders who killed thousands of people "with their hands" after the military coup in 1965 in Indonesia. In the movie they act " themselves". It is really unbelievable! When he is asked what kind of monsters those people are he says that by calling them " monsters" we escape the responsibility of facing the same evil within ourselves, because we are all capable of murder. He challenges all of us " to stop and look in the mirror". I have a very beloved friend from Rwanda, who could escape from the genocide. He said that people who were neighbours and friends for years turned against each other and became cold blooded murderers, and you would not believe how fast it all happened. Examples are many, from all of our countries. So the point is always to keep a certain amount of "paranoia" about ourselves and to check regularly whether we are really becoming the " ethical beings" we would like to be or not. I recommend everyone to take an online test called : "Harvard Implicit Association Test." Do it just for fun! There you can see if you have implicit racist tendencies, or gender bias, or biases against disabled people etc. They don't ask you questions, you just have to put words in boxes. When you read the explanation, it is quite logical how it works. I took all the tests, and thank God came out quite clean. For now. ( Except the result of the racism test about black and white people, which said that I have a bias towards white people. I will have to work on that I guess...) Thank you very much for this great lesson as always!

4:38 you forgot about German Autobahn ^^

Thanks for posting!

Amen! A hero for our days…

Hey people, Can anyone recommend me particular Adorno writings/articles/texts in which he concentrates on the CULTURE INDUSTRY? And if someone of you happen to know the piece in which he deconstructs the impact of Walt Disney would be extremely helpful. Thank you, have a nice day yall

I have a love-hate relationship with this guy.

I love this channel! I'm trying to study philosophy and sociology at night, and these wee videos are very useful - the key concepts are put across in a such a succinct and memorable way. They are way more useful than any of the so-called introductory texts I've read. Hurrah! Thank you!

Goodness, I wish I could like the whole channel!

i like that the annotation of this critique of capitalism wants me to buy philosophical honey and pencils

Well this dude would have been fun at parties...

Very clear explanation--nicely done!

Thank you for your insightful videos

I would love to know why the world ignores such wonderful minds? Can you make a video about Axel Honneth?

Adorno anything about philosophy. *walks out silently*

You rox0r guys, thanks so much for all your hard work.

I love this chanel and now it a seems I love Theodor Adorno as well