After Adorno: Rethinking Music Sociology

by Tia DeNora

• ISBN13: 9780521537247
• ISBN10: 052153724X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-24
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Theodor W. Adorno placed music at the centre of his critique of modernity and broached some of the most important questions about the role of music in contemporary society. One of his central arguments was that music, through the manner of its composition, affected consciousness and was a means of social management and control. His work was primarily theoretical however, and because these issues were never explored empirically his work has become sidelined in current music sociology. This book argues that music sociology can be greatly enriched by a return to Adorno's concerns, in particular his focus on music as a dynamic medium of social life. Intended as a guide to 'how to do music sociology' this book deals with critical topics too often sidelined such as aesthetic ordering, cognition, the emotions and music as a management device and reworks Adorno's focus through a series of grounded examples.

Author Biography

Tia DeNora is head of department and professor of sociology of music at the University of Exeter.

Table of Contents

List of figures	ix
List of music examples	x
Preface: a two part invention	xi
Acknowledgements	xiv
A note on background reading	xv
Adorno, `defended against his devotees'?	1	(34)
New methods and classic concerns	35	(24)
Music as cognition	59	(24)
How does music `channel' emotion?	83	(35)
Music and `control'	118	(33)
After Adorno: rethinking music sociology	151	(8)
Bibliography	159	(9)
Index	168