Week 3 - Is Popular Music a Mass Produced Commodity or a Genuine Art Form?

Some argue that popular music is produced as an art form by musicians. However some believe it is a mass produced commodity, such as Theador Adorno, who stated that ‘the whole structure of popular music is standardized’. He believed that popular music was a product of the culture industry and the capitalist system to make a profit, keep the people passive and stop them questioning society. He stated it was not an art form like classical compositions as it was too simplistic and not challenging to listen to. However, many argue that popular music is an art form as it is more than just a product: it can be interpreted in many ways and more can be taken away from it. There is art in the creation and people will understand it in different ways. Popular music can be seen as both an art form and a mass produced commodity as there are arguments to support both statements.