When we think of culture, we often imagine it as the creative pulse of humanity—songs that move us, films that inspire, and stories that reflect who we are. But what if culture isn’t actually as free or authentic as it appears? What if behind the glittering lights of Hollywood, the catchy hooks of pop songs, and the endless scroll of social media, there lies a system that controls our lives more than it enriches them?
This is the unsettling idea at the heart of the “culture industry,” a term that was first introduced by Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer during the mid-20th century. For them, culture had become a factory, churning out entertainment as if it were soap or cereal: packaged, predictable, and profitable.
Is this the diagnosis of a problem in society right now? If so, what can we do about it? Click through this gallery to find out.