A Theoretical Discussion on the Validity of the Frankfurt School's Critique of the 'Culture Industry' in the Age of Digitalization and Creative Industries

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Çelebi E., Özdemir A.

XII. International Vocational Schools Symposium, Ankara, Türkiye, 10 - 12 Ekim 2024, ss.10-18, (Tam Metin Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Tam Metin Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Ankara
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.10-18
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The Frankfurt School's concept of the “culture industry” offers a critical theoretical framework that addresses the standardization and control of cultural production and consumption processes in modern capitalist societies, whereby the masses are pacified through these processes. Developed by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer, this concept describes a world in which cultural works are commercialized and creative individuality is systematically suppressed. However, in contemporary societies, the critique of the culture industry has increasingly been replaced by the notion of the creative industries. Digital media technologies and computer-assisted visual design have transformed the processes of cultural production, enhancing individuals' participation in cultural production; yet, these processes have been reshaped in line with commercial interests.

In the digital age, creative industries have expanded into new fields such as computer-assisted visual design, graphic arts, web design, new media production, and content creation, facilitating individuals' participation in both creative and commercial processes.

As a result, while the Frankfurt School's critique of the culture industry remains partially relevant in the age of creative industries, the opportunities for creativity and participation offered by digital technologies challenge the boundaries of this critique. As computer-assisted visual design and new media technologies reshape cultural production, the culture industry necessitates reinterpretation from a creative industries perspective.

Theoretical analysis reveals that although digital design allows for creative freedom, the commercialization of cultural production processes has become a central element of creative industries. While creative industries contribute to shaping cultural products through commercial markets, digital design has become a significant part of this process. Nonetheless, there remain opportunities for individuals to express their creativity.

This study aims to theoretically discuss whether the Frankfurt School's critique of the culture industry remains valid in the context of creative industries, specifically within the realm of today's new media technologies, including computer-assisted visual design. Conceptual analysis is used as the method, whereby the relationship between the culture industry concept and creative industries, as well as computer-assisted visual design, is re-evaluated. This technique provides a suitable basis for analyzing individuals' participation in cultural production in fields such as computer-assisted visual design, social media, advertising, and content creation, and how digital technologies shape this production.