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The Value of Popular Music pp 69–108Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Adorno and Popular Music

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Abstract

Adorno and Popular Music examines Adorno’s critique of modernity and of the dominance of concept over matter, and also his music aesthetics and criticisms of popular music, examining how these apply to post-rock-‘n’-roll music. Adorno condemns popular songs for having standardised forms and interchangeable parts. The chapter argues that these are better understood in terms of repetitive structure and material elements that come together contingently. This is explored through examples from The Chords, Chuck Berry, U2, The Prodigy, Felt, and Gary Numan.

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  1. Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

    Alison Stone

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Stone, A. (2016). Adorno and Popular Music. In: The Value of Popular Music. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46544-9_3

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