Abstract

In this paper, I discuss Adorno’s critique of jazz to develop a metacritique. I explain the basic objection of Adorno against jazz which states that jazz performances do not realize a law of form and therefore are not able to challenge subjects. According to my diagnosis, Adorno’s assessment of jazz is based on his conception of art for, firstly, Adorno excludes interactions of contributing to a law of form and, secondly, has a one-sided account of how art reflects subjectivity. If one works out a conception of art that avoids these shortcomings it is possible to conceive of jazz as a paradigmatic form of art.