"Aesthetic Theory" is the last major work by one of the leading representatives of the Frankfurt School, one of the most significant works in contemporary Western philosophy of art. The author conceived it back in 1956 as a book summarizing his numerous works on philosophy, literature, and music theory. Adorno argues that art is simultaneously autonomous and deeply connected to its social context, expressing the internal contradictions of an era. The book reveals how genuine art can resist commercialization and mass culture while retaining its critical potential. The work combines elements of political philosophy, sociology, metaphysics, and other philosophical disciplines. A. V. Dranov's translation, first published a quarter of a century ago, is published under the scholarly editorship of V. A. Kurennoy.

The book was published as part of a joint project between Ad Marginem Publishing House and the masters school.