Global Culture Industry: The Mediation of Things

In the first half of the twentieth century, Theodor Adorno wrote about the 'culture industry'. For Adorno, culture along with the products of factory labour was increasingly becoming a commodity. Now, in the 'global culture industry', Scott Lash and Celia Lury argue that Adorno's worst nightmares have come true. Their new book tells the story of how material objects such as watches and sportswear have become powerful cultural symbols, and how the production of symbols, in the form of globally recognized brands, has become a central goal of capitalism. Global Culture Industry provides an examination of how these objects - from Nike shoes to Toy Story, from global football to conceptual art - metamorphose and move across borders. This book will be essential reading for students and scholars across social sciences.