From the awakening of negative thinking to the redemption of aesthetics:the evolutionary logic of Marcuse's critical theory of culture
HAN Wuyue
MA Xinying
Abstract：In the mid-twentieth century,in the historical context of totalitarian rule and technological rationality becoming a new form of rule,Marcuse formed a unique theory of cultural criticism based on the critical stance of Marxism and the experience of his predecessors.From the perspective of the development process of the theory itself,the logical starting point of Marcuse's theory of cultural criticism is the awakening of negative thinking in the historical context of totalitarian rule,the logical main line is the criticism of technical rationality in the unidirectional society,and the logical destination is the aesthetic theory based on aesthetic redemption.Marcuse's theory of cultural criticism still has significant reference value in the process of resisting capitalist cultural alienation and building a socialist cultural power in China.
Keywords：cultural critiquetechnical rationalitynegative thinkingaesthetic redemption
Publication Date：2026-03-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-07(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 17-24 )