Adorno was a leading figure of the Frankfurt School and a key representative of Critical Theory. His intellectual contributions span philosophy, sociology, aesthetics, and music theory. Deeply influenced by Marx, Hegel, and Freud, Adorno was critical of both capitalist mass culture and authoritarian systems. He emphasized the role of culture in maintaining social domination and coined the term “culture industry” to describe the commodification of art and thought in advanced capitalism.
After fleeing Nazi Germany, he spent time in exile in the United States, where he co-authored the influential study The Authoritarian Personality. Upon returning to Germany, he played a central role in postwar debates on education, democracy, and collective memory. Adorno’s thought remains central to contemporary discussions of ideology, media, and social critique.
