Att uttrycka det undanträngda : Theodor W. Adorno om konst, natur och sanning

• This thesis examines a central, but neglected aspect of the aesthetic theory of Theodor W. Adorno, namely his notion of art as mediator between mankind and nature. The analysis focuses on Adorno's discussion of art's truth content, understood here as art's ability to give voice to nature as it has been subjugated by the growth of civilization. Chapter one examines the notion of the domination of nature in Dialectic of Enlightenment. This notion serves as important background for the understanding of how art can preserve the memory of nature. Dialectic of Enlightenment also contains an outline of the genealogy of art. This genealogy is the focus of chapter two, which explores how the birth of art is connected to the domination of nature. Chapter three considers Adorno's criticism of the priority of human reason over nature in both Kant's and Hegel's aesthetics. Adorno claims instead that art which manages to mediate natural beauty reveals human being's likeness to nature and animals rather than her superiority over them. Chapter four explores the issue of how something created by man can give voice to nature, which is usually considered as mankind's opposite. Chapter five develops the discussion from chapter four and further examines Adorno's notion of art as a placeholder for that which is not yet, i.e. the reconciliation between mankind and nature. Chapter six deals with the relationship between art and society. Adorno regards art as both autonomous and social, and claims that it is necessary for art to participate in nature-dominating society in order to be able to give voice to repressed nature. In the concluding remarks an interpretation of Adorno's idea of art as a placeholder for the reconciliation between mankind and nature is outlined in a way that enables the inclusion of art after the modernist era as well.

Subject headings

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora -- Övrig annan humaniora (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities -- Other Humanities not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Aesthetics

Estetik

Aesthetics

estetik

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

dok (subject category)