Actuality of Adorno: Critical Essays on Adorno and the Postmodern (Suny Series in Contemporary Continental Philosophy)

Always resistant to classification, the work of Theodor Adorno ranged from biting criticism of the emergent popular culture in the United States and Europe, through theories of contemporary music and literature, and sociological analyses of the rise of fascism and antisemitism in Germany and elsewhere, to careful readings of modern Continental philosophers. As a leading member of the famous "Frankfurt School" of critical social theory, Adorno influenced current discussions in cultural studies and Continental philosophy. However, the various dimensions of Adorno's significance for the range of contemporary "postmodern" theory remained unclear. This book demonstrates the relevance and power of Adorno's work for the state of critical social theory today.

"The Actuality of Adorno offers a brilliant collection of essays on aspects of Adorno's work relevant to the fundamental themes of postmodernism. Max Pensky has assembled a group of foremost Continental scholars — Albrecht Wellmer, Hauke Brunkhorst, Ute Guzzoni, Peter Uwe Hohendahl, Miriam Hansen, Eva Geulen, and Wilhelm Wurzer — whose work constitutes the best of Adorno scholarship.

"Adorno is not only popular currently, but his relationship to postmodernity, which Pensky's collection explores, opens up an entirely new area of Adorno scholarship that brings together those interested in critical theory and poststructuralism". — David M. Rasmussen, Boston College