Adorno: The Stars Down to Earth and Other Essays on the Irrational in Culture (Routledge Classics (Paperback))

**The Stars Down to Earth is the first collection of Theodor Adorno's key papers on the irrational and mass culture. The essays in **The Stars Down To Earth offer an analysis of the irrational dimensions of modern culture which is both timely and disturbing in the 1990s, although they were written by Adorno half a century ago. Adorno's ideas are relevant to the understanding of phenomena as apparently diverse as astrology and ``New Age'' cults, the power of neo-fascist propaganda and the re-emergence of anti-Semitism, and the psychological basis of popular culture.**** The Essays Collected Here Offer An Analysis Of The Irrational Dimensions Of Modern Culture Which Is Both Timely And Disturbing In The 1990s. Adorno's Ideas Are Relevant To The Understanding Of Phenomena As Apparently Diverse As Astrology And New Age Cults, The Power Of Neo-fascist Propaganda And The Re-emergence Of Anti-semitism, And The Psychological Basis Of Popular Culture. The Longest Essay, The Stars Down To Earth Offers A Content Analysis Of The Astrology Column In A 1950s Los Angeles Newspaper. Adorno Argues That The Column Promotes Psychological Dependency And Social Conformism In Much The Same Way As Fascist Propaganda. He Maintains That The Same Principles Operate In The Mainstream Products Of The Culture Industry. The Three Shorter Papers Illuminate Different Aspects Of Adorno's Argument: The Relation Of Occultism To Orthodox Modern Thought, The Pervasiveness Of Anti-semitism, And The Psycho-technic Rhetoric Of Fascist Propaganda. Stephen Crook's Introduction Critically Reviews Adorno's Argument And Offers An Assessment Of Its Contemporary Relevance. Taken Together, These Essays Offer An Astringent Antidote To Any Facile Optimism About The Democratic And Pluralist Character Of Postmodern Popular Culture. Adorno Identifies An Irrationalist Dynamic Which Implicates The Most Enlightened And Emancipated Elements Of Contemporary Culture. His Unsettling Arguments Demand The Attention Of Anyone Interested In Popular Culture, Critical Theory, Racism, And Authoritarian Politics. The Stars Down To Earth -- Theses Against Occultism -- Research Project On Anti-semitism -- Anti-semitism And Fascist Propaganda. Theodor W. Adorno ; Edited With An Introduction By Stephen Crook. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Theodor Adorno was one of the giants of twentieth-century thought. This volume collects his key articles on the irrational in mass culture. Although he wrote them half a century ago Adorno's ideas are relevant to the understanding of phenomena as apparently diverse as:* astrology and "New Age" cults* the power of neo-fascist propaganda and the re-emergence of anti-Semitism* the psychological basis of popular culture.His superb essay, The Stars Down To Earth is an innovative and startling analysis of the astrology column in a Los Angeles newspaper. Adorno argues that the column promotes fascist dependency and social conformism in much the same way as fascist propaganda. He maintains that the same principles operate in the mainstream products of the `culture industry'. The three shorter papers illuminate different aspects of Adorno's argument: the relation of occultism to orthodox modern thought, the pervasiveness of anti-Semitism, and the 'psycho-technic' rhetoric of fascist propaganda. The collection shows Adorno at his brilliant and maddening best. Stephen Crook's introduction critically reviews Adorno's argument and offers an assessment of its contemporary relevance. "Theodor Adorno was one of the giants of twentieth-century thought. This volume presents four of his key writings on the irrational in mass culture : From Astrology to Fascism ; from anti-Semitism to to the Occult. The superb essay 'Stars down to Earth', an innovative and startling analysis of the astrology column in a Los Angeles newspaper, is followed by three shorter pieces which explore the dark side of modern culture and lead to profoundly disturbing conclusions ..."--Back cover Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 7 Introduction: Adorno and Authoritarian Irrationalism......Page 8 THE STARS DOWN TO EARTH: THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ASTROLOGY COLUMN......Page 41 THESES AGAINST OCCULTISM......Page 135 RESEARCH PROJECT ON ANTI-SEMITISM: IDEA OF THE PROJECT......Page 142 ANTI-SEMITISM AND FASCIST PROPAGANDA......Page 169 Name Index......Page 179 Subject Index......Page 181 The group of studies to which the content analysis of the Los Angeles Times astrology column belongs, sets as its aim the investigation of the nature and motivations of some large-scale social phenomena involving irrational elements in a peculiar way - fused with what may be dubbed pseudo-rationality. A collection of key articles on the irrational in mass culture, relevant to the understanding of phenomena such as astrology and New Age cults, the power of neo-fascist propaganda and the psychological basis of popular culture, showing Theodor Adorno at his brilliant and maddening best.