Review of Adorno's Aesthetics on 50th Anniversary of His Death Examines 1968 Student Protests
On August 6, 2019, a review commemorates the 50th anniversary of Theodor W. Adorno's passing, focusing on his work Aesthetics and its impact during the student protests of 1968. During this time, Adorno encountered opposition from three students who proclaimed, "Adorno as an institution is dead," labeling his perspectives as conservative. He shared his feelings about this confrontation with Max Horkheimer. Aesthetics, derived from a lecture series, introduces his concluding work, Aesthetic Theory, where Adorno delves into Kantian and Hegelian aesthetics. He emphasizes that art criticism should engage with contemporary creations and connect art to its broader context. The review underscores his distinctive methodology, setting him apart from other critics. Polity Press publishes the book in various formats.
Key facts
- The review was published on August 6, 2019, the 50th anniversary of Theodor W. Adorno's death.
- Adorno's book Aesthetics is part of a lecture series covering Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, metaphysics, and history and freedom.
- During 1968 student protests, three students exposed their breasts to Adorno and distributed leaflets declaring 'Adorno as an institution is dead.'
- Adorno confided in Max Horkheimer about the protest, emphasizing his opposition to erotic repression.
- The book serves as an introduction to Adorno's final work, Aesthetic Theory, and explores Kantian and Hegelian aesthetics, Bach, beauty, and Jugendstil.
- Adorno argues art criticism must engage with contemporary artwork, not just classics, and recognizes art's social and historical content.
- He contrasts classical Athenian sculpture, which excluded slave society foundations, with Jean-François Millet's peasants.
- Aesthetics is published by Polity Press, edited by Eberhard Ortland, translated by Wieland Hoban, and available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle editions.
Entities
Artists
- Theodor W. Adorno
- Arnold Schoenberg
- John Berger
- Jean-François Millet
- Max Horkheimer
- Eberhard Ortland
- Wieland Hoban
- Lewis Hodder
Institutions
- artcritical
- Polity Press
Locations
- Germany
- Europe
- America
- Athens
- Third Reich