Adorno's Pessimism

[Philip Hancock]

I think this got sent to the wrong address the first time around. If it 
didn't, sorry for the double posting!

What I find re-invigorating about Adorno's pessimism, is that it 
acknowledges itself, while simultaineously maintainig the possibility and 
indeed vitality of critique. This is, it seems to me, increasingly important 
in the face of a postmodern onslaught whose only respone to the 'Dialectic 
of Enlightenment' as articulated by Adorno, is to deny the effaciousness of 
critique, surrendering instead to the headonism of a 'culture industry' 
which demands not only upon obedience, but celebration.

Perhaps his 'message in a bottle' may not be heard for some generations to 
come.

Philip Hancock - philiph@ucscarb.ac.uk