The author describes the power of cultural commodification in the context of postmodern capitalism & its hegemonic use of image & icon. Recent trends in consumerism & marketing are interpreted using critical theories of Adorno and Baudrillard. The author believes a dialectical approach is needed for the development of effective critical & democratic cultural politics. The success of different critical methods of resistance to capitalism & the state is described. These include the anti-sweatshop movement, culture jamming, counterimages, and new iconoclasm.
