Musical reproduction: the influence of Benjamin in the musical thought of Theodor Adorno

• Grant number: 20/15183-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2021
• End date: April 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Music
• Principal Investigator: Mário Rodrigues Videira Junior
• Grantee: Vinícius Benalia Penteado
• Host Institution: Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project seeks to investigate the influences of the philosopher Walter Benjamin in Theodor Adorno's theoretical-musical conceptions about the concept of musical reproduction, from his sketches edited under the name Towards a Theory of Musical Reproduction, published posthumously. The book addresses his theories from his first conceptual sketch, dated 1927, to later notes, from 1959, comprising much of the philosopher's intellectual development. The Benjaminian influence is very evident in both moments of its theoretical production. Thus, it will be investigated how Walter Benjamin's theses support the concept of musical reproduction developed by Adorno. The relationship between both, which begins in the 1920s, changes completely after theoretical divergences in their productions in the 1930s. Thereby, it will be worked the first influence exerted by Benjamin and the consequences that the intellectual rupture between them will cause for the Theodor Adorno's thought. (AU)