Dialectical Zach Zack Loeffler
@thezachloeffler.bsky.social
I teach philosophy. Formerly a musicologist. Writing a book about Adorno’s musical theory of “life without fear.”
Ed board CTWG: https://ctwgwebsite.github.io
Work: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SKkjTjsrnEcNm6jQMCFT-ZnHoja0Fx94/view?usp=drivesdk
Ed board CTWG: https://ctwgwebsite.github.io
Work: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SKkjTjsrnEcNm6jQMCFT-ZnHoja0Fx94/view?usp=drivesdk
12 July 1957 lecture by Adorno to UChicago students on “the purpose of education” defending disciplinary specialization. “the shortest path to genuine universality is to be found precisely when we abandon the quest for the merely general.”
August 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
12 July 1957 lecture by Adorno to UChicago students on “the purpose of education” defending disciplinary specialization. “the shortest path to genuine universality is to be found precisely when we abandon the quest for the merely general.”
From 1939 lecture Adorno gave at the Rockefeller-funded Princeton radio Research Project explaining his approach wouldn't be like the usual ones where “the guiding interest…is basically one of...how to manipulate the masses” but “a social critique of radio” based on the following axioms:
July 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
From 1939 lecture Adorno gave at the Rockefeller-funded Princeton radio Research Project explaining his approach wouldn't be like the usual ones where “the guiding interest…is basically one of...how to manipulate the masses” but “a social critique of radio” based on the following axioms:
My article on the antinomy of encore-loving and -hating is an attempt at a music-oriented critical theory inspired by Adorno. It’s been in the works for a long time + is the closest I’ve come to saying something. Thanks to @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social for notes. online.ucpress.edu/ncm/article-...
July 25, 2025 at 1:06 AM
My article on the antinomy of encore-loving and -hating is an attempt at a music-oriented critical theory inspired by Adorno. It’s been in the works for a long time + is the closest I’ve come to saying something. Thanks to @crittheoryworkgrp.bsky.social for notes. online.ucpress.edu/ncm/article-...
“If people want to persuade us that the conditional nature of man sets limits to utopia, that is simply untrue.”
May 21, 2025 at 7:11 PM
“If people want to persuade us that the conditional nature of man sets limits to utopia, that is simply untrue.”
Limping in2 Spring quarter w/ Kant’s 3rd Antinomy+Adorno’s critique of it.Wish I could teach a whole class on A’s reading of K’s practical philosophy.I admit I’m always moved by this bit of K’s account of the transcendental spontaneity we can’t dispense w/ as moral beings despite its non-existence
March 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Limping in2 Spring quarter w/ Kant’s 3rd Antinomy+Adorno’s critique of it.Wish I could teach a whole class on A’s reading of K’s practical philosophy.I admit I’m always moved by this bit of K’s account of the transcendental spontaneity we can’t dispense w/ as moral beings despite its non-existence
An apposite 1935 letter from Adorno to Horkheimer listing former students murdered, imprisoned, and disappeared by the Nazis for communist activities. h/t @jamescrane.bsky.social
March 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
An apposite 1935 letter from Adorno to Horkheimer listing former students murdered, imprisoned, and disappeared by the Nazis for communist activities. h/t @jamescrane.bsky.social
The book has already been written, and yes most didn’t like it. “Thought is happiness, even where it defines unhappiness: by enunciating it.“
February 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The book has already been written, and yes most didn’t like it. “Thought is happiness, even where it defines unhappiness: by enunciating it.“
Rereading this, and I forgot how deeply powerful it is. “The oppressed class does not struggle for the progress of oppression.”
February 12, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Rereading this, and I forgot how deeply powerful it is. “The oppressed class does not struggle for the progress of oppression.”
Instead of technofeudalism, what about House of Orange capitalism for a periodizing gimmick?
February 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Instead of technofeudalism, what about House of Orange capitalism for a periodizing gimmick?
We are learning lol
January 18, 2025 at 9:34 PM
We are learning lol
sorry but i love this rendering of performance practice rigor as the fascistic wish for "germ-free art": "They want to liquidate what has not been domesticated by the solid order, the untamed vagary whose last, sorry traces are the rubati and exhibitions of soloists."
January 16, 2025 at 2:59 PM
sorry but i love this rendering of performance practice rigor as the fascistic wish for "germ-free art": "They want to liquidate what has not been domesticated by the solid order, the untamed vagary whose last, sorry traces are the rubati and exhibitions of soloists."
“The music of the rich is always pleasant, even if played on a jawbone”
January 10, 2025 at 1:20 AM
“The music of the rich is always pleasant, even if played on a jawbone”
Much of Adorno’s critical theory of music condensed into these few lines: “If one would obtain a concept of society through his own sensorium, he can use music to learn how…the bad prevails even where it is faced with a concrete sense of the better.”
December 30, 2024 at 8:40 PM
Much of Adorno’s critical theory of music condensed into these few lines: “If one would obtain a concept of society through his own sensorium, he can use music to learn how…the bad prevails even where it is faced with a concrete sense of the better.”
Another quarter, another attempt to teach Frankfurt School history of philosophy
December 30, 2024 at 1:17 PM
Another quarter, another attempt to teach Frankfurt School history of philosophy
Great show—amazing work by Adom et al.
December 30, 2024 at 11:35 AM
Great show—amazing work by Adom et al.
This reminds me that I forgot to post my picture of a 5th century BCE symposium drinking vessel in the shape of a donkey’s head
December 30, 2024 at 11:20 AM
This reminds me that I forgot to post my picture of a 5th century BCE symposium drinking vessel in the shape of a donkey’s head
Helpful passage by Adorno on the antinomy of the student movement—the critique of the university for not working well enough as a factory while also being too much like a factory. Reminds me of the tensions that animate many kinds of organizing in higher ed.
December 11, 2024 at 12:39 AM
Helpful passage by Adorno on the antinomy of the student movement—the critique of the university for not working well enough as a factory while also being too much like a factory. Reminds me of the tensions that animate many kinds of organizing in higher ed.
Can’t make gravy without this salubrious goop
November 26, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Can’t make gravy without this salubrious goop
Adorno qualifying his account of the bourgeoisification of proletarian consciousness by defending workers and unions: “If the workers do indeed have more to lose than their chains, then that may be painful for the theory, but it is initially very good for the workers.”
November 26, 2024 at 12:45 PM
Adorno qualifying his account of the bourgeoisification of proletarian consciousness by defending workers and unions: “If the workers do indeed have more to lose than their chains, then that may be painful for the theory, but it is initially very good for the workers.”
Forthcoming in 19th-Century Music
November 22, 2024 at 1:54 PM
Forthcoming in 19th-Century Music
My 2 yo dancing in the oldest branch of the Chicago Public library to give you a lift
October 14, 2023 at 4:40 PM
My 2 yo dancing in the oldest branch of the Chicago Public library to give you a lift
My tweet is famous on Instagram. I want those 1,327 likes. I’m sure they would fill up the hole inside me a little.
September 1, 2023 at 4:52 PM
My tweet is famous on Instagram. I want those 1,327 likes. I’m sure they would fill up the hole inside me a little.
Don’t leave daddy😢
August 21, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Don’t leave daddy😢
I have not yet offered any hinge content for you fine bluesky (pronounce brewsky) people, so here you go. Was lucky this week to acquire this office door hinge from the c. 1895 Reliance Building in Chicago. Designed and produced by Yale & Towne Stamford, CT. Bower-Barff finish.
August 20, 2023 at 8:40 PM
I have not yet offered any hinge content for you fine bluesky (pronounce brewsky) people, so here you go. Was lucky this week to acquire this office door hinge from the c. 1895 Reliance Building in Chicago. Designed and produced by Yale & Towne Stamford, CT. Bower-Barff finish.
Made a cool frame for a cool print by @alyaimsorry.bsky.social
August 8, 2023 at 12:22 AM
Made a cool frame for a cool print by @alyaimsorry.bsky.social