"Everything that has ever been called folk art has always reflected domination"
- Theodor Adorno
About this Quote
The quote by Theodor Adorno recommends that folk art, which is normally developed by non-professional artists, has constantly reflected the class structure and systems of domination that exist in society. This might be interpreted to indicate that folk art is not devoid of the impact of dominant ideologies and is frequently developed within particular social and political contexts. Adorno may be suggesting that folk art is not always a genuine expression of private imagination, but rather a product of societal norms and values.