Summary of: Adorno's 'On Popular Music' - Portfolio Task 2

Quickley read Adorno's (1941) article 'On Popular Music'. In no more than a few paragraphs summarise his ideas on pop music, concentrating on highlighting key points such as 'standardisation.

Adorno believes that there are 'two spheres of music'. He calls these, serious and popular music. In this article, Adorno talks about the differences between the two. He talks about 'standardisation', how all popular music is the same. It repeatedly uses the same subjects and the same rules.

In comparison, he says that every detail of a serious piece of music is unique, if notes were missing the music would not be the same. Unlike popular music where, 'every detail is substitutable; it serves its function only as a cog in a machine' (Adorno, On Popular Music, 1941). Therefore, to listen to this music you don't need to think or be engaged.

As all popular music is 'standardised', the listener has the same reaction to all songs in a particular genre, regardless of the song, lyrics or artist. Because they all sound the same, it makes popular music easy to sell. The costumer doesn't have to think, they know they like that type of music, so they buy it.

Post a link to a Youtube pop video that, in your opinion, epitomises Adorno's sentiments. Explain why, trying to emphasise the links to the wider 'culture industry' in general.

Taylor Swift- Love Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg3vE8Ie_E&feature=artistob&playnext=1&list=TLSbx3q4AW0JI

This is a good example of popular music. The song is 'standardised' and the story and characters of the song can be seen in countless others. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they get together in the end (happy ending). The song has about 7 versus and a chorus that is repeated until the last one where its slightly different. These 'standardised' songs follow the same rules and patterns so even though you may of only heard it once, you instantly recognise it and like it.

This song plays on every girls dream/fairytale of falling in love and living happily ever after. Makes us feel like this is what we should aim for/have, '..their response to music immediately expresses their desire to obey' (Adorno, On Popular Music, 1941). Adorno believes that listening to this sort of music is an escapism and that this 'sentimental music lies rather in the temporary release given to the awareness that one has missed fulfillment' (Adorno, On Popular Music, 1941)