Minima Moralia: Reflections from Damaged Life

Technological trends have raised the standard of living for everyone so much that the concept of luxury is obsolete. At the same time, it has ended “the possibility of fulfillment” (119). Adorno gives the example of train travel, which has become faster but a much less romantic and enjoyable experience. While there are still products that appeal to rich people, like the Cadillac, the only real difference between the Cadillac and the less- expensive Chevrolet is that the former is manufactured with cheaper and worse parts.

Instead of a focus on beauty in the old objects of luxury, like gems, capitalism emphasizes happiness. Luxurious products are just another mass-produced item, a “senseless gadget” (120). Beauty still exists through aestheticism, but Adorno argues that aestheticism ends up rejecting what is useful and becomes “brutality” (121), then a parody of itself. Nonetheless, beauty still promises something outside of “terror” (121). Adorno sees this “paradox” as “fundamental to all art” (121).

Adorno interprets the fairy tale of Snow White as melancholic. Even though the story has a happy ending, it still presents death through Snow White’s mother’s death in childbirth and the deep, death-like sleep Snow White falls into. Snow White’s happy ending of just leaving with a prince she only has kind feelings for also seems hollow.