num_pages: 0
description: In 1951 German sociologist Theodor Adorno wrote Cultural Criticism and Society one of the most important essays for understanding the concept of critical theory. This essay reveals a striking tension between the philosophical methods of transcendent criticism and immanent criticism. In this complex work Adorno explains these styles of criticism by analyzing the position of the critic both within and outside of culture. Furthermore Adorno argues that in order for art to be considered successful it must contain some truth that society is contradictory. To further understand the tension between transcendent criticism and immanent criticism it is important to examine how each method has been contextualized within the world of critical theory.
language: English
title: Cultural Criticism and Society
publisher: None