Francesca 10/30 Adorno

In reading Adorno, I found his concept of the cultural filter applicable to various postmodern mediums. The evolution of technology in terms of film and television has rendered our generation a reflection of fictional characters. This can be seen as a chicken and egg debate of life imitating art or vice versa yet the similarities are undeniable nonetheless. Many shows are targeted at specific audiences in order to assure favorable ratings. By means of presenting fictional characters that represent typical people, television networks secure audiences that are seeking to identify with a specific group. As these characters demonstrate idealized standards of attractiveness, the bar is set for viewers as to how they should look. In addition, the contrived problems presented in these shows attempt to convey situations that are plausible in real life yet with a dramatized twist. In other words, these shows are your life, only better. For instance, shows such as the O.C. portray teens with super-model allure and worst-case scenario daily problems. In turn, teenagers gravitate towards such shows as they serve as a guideline for how they should look, dress, act, and feel. Life imitates art in this respect. Yet, the astronomical ratings for such shows calls networks to reproduce art exorbitantly to supply an undeniable demand. Thus, art imitates life for profit. The cultural filter serves as the explication for capitalism’s role in shaping young people’s social identity. The need to associate oneself with a group for the sake of personal validation is not a new phenomenon, but the manner in which society renders profit from it is. In conclusion, the evolution of technology has enabled Adorno’s theory to be substantiated at the expense of our generation’s individuality.