Social Criticism: Types of Social Criticism

Social criticism is a method of analyzing how the existing social structure creates sociological issues. Typically, a social critic proposes solutions to perceived injustices and calls for consensual reforms or radical changes to existing structures through revolution.

Social criticism exists in a few forms. Here are a few examples:

• Critical theory: In the early twentieth century, the Frankfurt School in Germany birthed a form of social criticism called critical theory—the idea that philosophy served as a tool to identify and overcome social problems. Influenced by Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud, critical theorists at the Frankfurt School, such as Jürgen Habermas and Theodor Adorno, believed that philosophy didn’t aim to gain knowledge but rather to use knowledge to free humanity from oppression. Thinkers in philosophy, social sciences, psychology, cultural studies, and law have used critical theory in their disciplines since the 1970s and have developed specialized focuses like critical race theory and gender theory to evaluate the relationships between society and specific social groups. Some critical theorists reject academic forms of discourse altogether, focusing on real-world social movements rather than theoretical discussions.
• Literary criticism: Social criticism evaluates literature based on its relationship to society. Literary criticism examines the author’s status in their society as well as the effect the literary work had on its audience within the society. Marxist criticism is one form of social criticism; it examines how a specific work of literature affirms or rejects oppression within class systems. Similarly, postcolonial criticism analyzes depictions of colonialism in literature, focusing on the control and exploitation of colonized people. In addition to evaluating existing literature through this lens, critical theorists also compose fictional works that explore social problems in a narrative form. Popular examples include dystopian novels like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or Animal Farm by George Orwell, or historical fiction like A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.
• Social criticism in music: Certain genres of music—like punk, rap, and some metal—emerged from social critiques of government, oppression, and disillusionment with society. For example, the punk song “Pretty Vacant” by the Sex Pistols discusses teenage apathy regarding England’s tumultuous political climate in the 1970s. “Brenda’s Got a Baby” by 2Pac is another example of social criticism; the song details the social injustices that some communities face.

Social criticism can benefit society as a whole. Here are a few ways:

• It amplifies the needs of oppressed social groups. Engaging with social criticism can help you understand different perspectives, especially that of groups who commonly get left out of the dominant societal narrative.
• It can challenge your beliefs. Without social criticism, certain ideas—including outdated or harmful ones—could go unchallenged. Social criticism can provide you with the analytical tools to imagine a better world or to teach you more about how society functions.
• It can lead to real change. Even fictional works of social criticism can have a significant impact on society. For example, Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle about the dangers and exploitation of the meat industry influenced legislation that improved food safety protocols. In legal studies, offshoots of critical theory like critical race theory or feminist legal theory have challenged the status quo within the law and started conversations about how the legal system perpetuates inequality.
• It combines theory and practice. Social criticism aims to build a more equitable society, which means it goes beyond theoretical discussions. Social critics seek to empower individuals to not only understand their oppression but to do something about it.

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