MarxismMarxism

“Marxism is the theory of how the normality of our everyday world, … its workday habits and its working day, its monetary stresses and pressures on one end and its leisure and freedom on the other, is riven from within by what Marx called ‘class struggle’ ”(Literary Theory: an Anthology, 231).

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Class struggle: a contradiction Class struggle: a contradiction

between those with wealth and between those with wealth and

those lacking it. This those lacking it. This

contradiction sustains the society contradiction sustains the society

while at the same time while at the same time

threatening to disintegrate it.threatening to disintegrate it.

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Karl Marx (1818-Karl Marx (1818-

1883)1883)

• The German IdeoloThe German Ideology (1846)gy (1846)• TheThe Communist ManifestoCommunist Manifesto (1848) (1848)• Capital Capital (1867(1867) )

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CapitalismCapitalism Promoting private accumulation of wealthPromoting private accumulation of wealth Advocating individual freedom in economic Advocating individual freedom in economic

mattersmatters Inequality in distribution of wealthInequality in distribution of wealth Enslaving the working class through economic Enslaving the working class through economic

policies and control of productionpolicies and control of production Class differentiationClass differentiation Severe povertySevere poverty Works by a “hidden disequilibrium” in the work Works by a “hidden disequilibrium” in the work

we do we do what we get (salary) < what we give what we get (salary) < what we give

(labor)(labor)

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Traditional Marxism : Some Key Concepts

The BASE: economic in nature, capitalism

The SUPERSTRUCTURE: ideas, beliefs, philosophy, art,…

The economic power holders determine economic policies and have control over the production of goods. The values and beliefs will become the dominant ideology of the society.

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Traditional Marxism : Some Key Traditional Marxism : Some Key ConceptsConcepts

“ “ The enforcement of the ideas of this elite group The enforcement of the ideas of this elite group on the working classes entraps them, mostly on the working classes entraps them, mostly unknowingly, in an economic system that decides all unknowingly, in an economic system that decides all aspects of their lives from their wages to their life aspects of their lives from their wages to their life style and beliefs.”style and beliefs.”

Alienation: the process as a result of which people Alienation: the process as a result of which people become foreign to their human nature and the become foreign to their human nature and the product of their labor. Work becomes a meaningless product of their labor. Work becomes a meaningless circulation of money. circulation of money.

Use value (direct value)/ Exchange value (the added Use value (direct value)/ Exchange value (the added value, with the money as the third party equalizer)value, with the money as the third party equalizer)

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IdeologyIdeology

According to Marx, ideology is “the ruling ideas According to Marx, ideology is “the ruling ideas of the ruling class.” In this definition ideology of the ruling class.” In this definition ideology is, more or less, a reflection of the material is, more or less, a reflection of the material infrastructure.infrastructure.

A more complicated definition offered by John A more complicated definition offered by John Fiske,Fiske,

“ “Ideology is not … a static set of ideas through Ideology is not … a static set of ideas through which we view the world but a dynamic social which we view the world but a dynamic social practice, constantly in producing itself in the practice, constantly in producing itself in the ordinary workings of these apparatuses [such ordinary workings of these apparatuses [such as the media and education]. It also works at as the media and education]. It also works at the micro-level of the individual.”the micro-level of the individual.” 77

Louis Althusser (1918-1990)Louis Althusser (1918-1990)

““Ideology and Ideological Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses”State Apparatuses”

Why do people obey the Why do people obey the State?State?Why don’t they rebel?Why don’t they rebel?

1) RSAs: ensure physical 1) RSAs: ensure physical enforcement of the law, enforcement of the law, primarily work by repression primarily work by repression (the police)(the police)

2) ISAs: generate beliefs and 2) ISAs: generate beliefs and values (family, schools)values (family, schools)

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How does ideology work?How does ideology work?

How do people come to believe it?How do people come to believe it?

1) Ideologies: historical, specific, various1) Ideologies: historical, specific, various

2) Ideology: Ahistorical, asocial, 2) Ideology: Ahistorical, asocial, unchanging, inevitableunchanging, inevitable

There is no escape from ideology. It is There is no escape from ideology. It is called, the “Prison-house of language.” called, the “Prison-house of language.” (Fredrick Jameson)(Fredrick Jameson)

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““Ideology is a ‘representation’ of the Ideology is a ‘representation’ of the Imaginary relationship of Individuals to Imaginary relationship of Individuals to their Real conditions of existence” their Real conditions of existence” (Althusser, 24).(Althusser, 24).

Why not just understand the real?Why not just understand the real?

The real economic condition= exploitation, The real economic condition= exploitation, alienationalienation

Ideology= the mask, the painkiller, the Ideology= the mask, the painkiller, the illusory representationillusory representation

According to Althusser, ideology does not According to Althusser, ideology does not reflect the reality; it distorts it. reflect the reality; it distorts it. 1010

““Ideology has a material existence.”Ideology has a material existence.”

It exists in two placesIt exists in two places

1)1) In an apparatus or practice: a ritual (a In an apparatus or practice: a ritual (a material practice)material practice)

2)2) In a subject, a person (a material being)In a subject, a person (a material being)

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HHow does Ideology enlist individuals as ow does Ideology enlist individuals as subjects in a belief system?subjects in a belief system?

1) We are born into subject-hood.1) We are born into subject-hood.

2) We are always already in Ideology ( born 2) We are always already in Ideology ( born into specific ideologies).into specific ideologies).

3) Ideology interpellates (names, addresses, 3) Ideology interpellates (names, addresses, hails) each one of us as its subject (both in hails) each one of us as its subject (both in subjective and objective senses).subjective and objective senses).

subject (person)/ Subject (the structural subject (person)/ Subject (the structural possibility of Subject-hood, never attainable possibility of Subject-hood, never attainable in realityin reality

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Because you’re Worth Because you’re Worth it.it.

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