Lecture : Core texts - Animation

This lecture primarily centred around theories concerned with popular culture. Although not wholly relevant to my context of practice topic, it did highlight some interesting texts. 

ADORNO (1954)

• A formulaic approach to the creation of television and popular music - which encourages a conformist and passive approach within it's audiences.
• Any deviation from the formula results in alienation, therefore this suppresses experimentation. This is not with the aim to indoctrinate or censor, but simply is an adaption to capitalist consumerist society. 

SOCIETY OF THE SPECTACLE, Guy Debord

• There is an existence an authentic culture, which unlike mass culture advocates - active consumption, individual creation, imagination and autonomy. 

THE WORK OF ART IN THE AGE OF MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION, Walter Benjamin

• We do not have to act passively within the structures of popular culture and consumerist society. We can be aware of these social constructs and consume knowingly, and even use this awareness to shape and change within the system itself. 
• A new way of thinking created through popular culture, which will eventually defeat authoritarianism and standardisation.  
• There has been created an 'aura' surrounding original works of art, however, through reproduction we deconstruct this 'aura' and challenge authority e.g. Mona Lisa. 
• New technologies democratise.