Quote by Herbert Marcuse
If mass communications blend together harmoniously, and often unnoticeably, art, politics, religion, and philosophy with commercials, they bring these realms of culture to their common denominator -- the commodity form. The music of the soul is also the music of salesmanship. Exchange value, not truth value, counts.
Summary
This quote suggests that mass communications have the power to seamlessly integrate different aspects of culture, such as art, politics, religion, and philosophy, with commercials. By doing so, they reduce everything to the common denominator of commodity, where the value is determined by its exchange worth rather than its truth or inherent value. It implies that even the deep and personal expressions of the soul, like music, can be influenced or driven by the motive of selling something. In essence, it highlights the dominance of commercial interests in shaping various cultural aspects in mass communication.
Topics
Culture
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