Neo-Marxism extends Marxism through integration of other intellectual traditions. Developed in 20th century to address problems traditional Marxism couldn't solve. Many prominent neo-Marxists were sociologists and psychologists
Born in 1895 to wealthy Orthodox Jewish family in Stuttgart. Worked in family business from 1910, met Friedrich Pollock and Rose Riekher. Studied philosophy and psychology at Frankfurt University under Hans Cornelius
Benjamin was a Frankfurt School thinker who opposed cultural commodities. He wrote about new media's transformative power for the working class. Aura is defined as a unique physical and temporal sensation from artwork
Born in Frankfurt in 1903 as Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund. Studied philosophy with Hans Cornelius and music composition with Alban Berg. Completed Habilitationsschrift on Kierkegaard's aesthetics in 1931
Critical Theory aims to critique society by identifying underlying assumptions preventing true democracy. Developed in Frankfurt School from Horkheimer and Adorno, focusing on fascism and mass media. Theory must be explanatory, practical, and normative according to Horkheimer
Born as Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund in 1903 to wealthy Jewish father and Corsican mother. Studied philosophy at Goethe University in Frankfurt, expelled by Nazis. Changed surname to Adorno after Nazi persecution