Georg Lukács and Critical Theory: Aesthetics, History, Utopia

Tyrus Miller

Open Access Published by Edinburgh University Press 2022

Georg Lukács and Critical Theory

Aesthetics, History, Utopia

Tyrus Miller

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781399502436

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book examines the heritage of critical theory from the Hungarian Marxist philosopher Georg Lukács through the early Frankfurt School up to current issues of authoritarian politics and democratisation. Interweaving discussion of art and literature, utopian thought, and the dialectics of high art and mass culture, it offers unique perspectives on an interconnected group of left-wing intellectuals who sought to understand and resist their society's systemic impoverishment of thought and experience. Starting from Lukács’s reflections on art, utopia, and historical action, it progresses to the Frankfurt School philosopher Theodor W. Adorno’s analyses of music, media, avant-garde and kitsch. It concludes with discussions of erotic utopia, authoritarianism, postsocialism, and organised deceit in show trials – topics in which the legacy of Lukács and Frankfurt School critical theory continues to be relevant today.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vi
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Chapter 1 Georg Lukács and Critical Theory: The Long Goodbye Open Access Download PDF	1
Part I Georg Lukács
Chapter 2 Matthew, Mark, Lukács, and Bloch: From Aesthetic Utopianism to Religious Messianism Open Access Download PDF	31
Chapter 3 Lukács’s Theatres of History: Drama, Action, and Historical Agency Open Access Download PDF	55
Chapter 4 The Non-Contemporaneity of Lukács and Lukács: Cold War Contradictions and the Aesthetics of Visual Art Open Access Download PDF	81
Part II Theodor W. Adorno
Chapter 5 Adorno and/or Avant-Garde: Looking Back at Surrealism Open Access Download PDF	105
Chapter 6 Avant-Garde and Kitsch, or, Teddy the Musical! Open Access Download PDF	124
Chapter 7 Remediating Opera: Media and Musical Drama in Adorno and Kluge Open Access Download PDF	144
Part III Critical Theory
Chapter 8 Perversion and Utopia: Sade, Fourier, and Critical Theory Open Access Download PDF	169
Chapter 9 Interdisciplinary Legacies: Critical Theory and Authoritarian Culture Open Access Download PDF	195
Chapter 10 Prophecies of Mass Deception: Dewey, Trotsky, and the Moscow Show Trials Open Access Download PDF	225
Chapter 11 Tell-Trials, or, Gyuri the Radio Play Open Access Download PDF	258
Index Open Access Download PDF	263

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 280
Illustrations
- Other: 13 black and white illustrations
Keywords: Literary Studies

eBook

Published: July 11, 2022
ISBN: 9781399502436