Culture + Marxism Flashcards
what is marxism and what kind of theory?
is a conflict theory
- rejects the idea that society is based around biological needs or shared values
–> instead, conflict between groups with different economic intrests
what are marxists assumptions about culture?
- materialist view of culture
- that the base of culture is the available resources (food, fuel, technology) and who control it
what is the superstructure? (still marxists assumptions abt culture)
the superstructure is all the cultural institutions built on / shaped by this base
what is ‘means of production’ (termed by marxists) + example?
- this means underlying all the things about our culture e.g. festivals, the art, religion, dress –> gos down to economic arrangements –> who has got control of most important physical resources
e.g. farms produce food, mines produce coal - but who own this?
what are the two classes in society?
the bourgeoisie (ruling class) control the means of production
the proletariat (working class) have to sell their labour to the ruling class in exchange for a wage
why is the arrangement of the two classes in society unfair?
because the ruling class - bourgeoisie is exploiting the working class - proletariat, paying them less than their labour is worth in order to make a profit
what do marxists think about cultural relativism?
- marxists SUPPORT cultural relativism
–> the cultures differ because of their economic base differing
–> some are more unequal and unfair than others
what is capitalism?
private ownership: everything is owned by someone, nothing is automatically free
profit: things that are made + sold, not for what they are worth, but at a price which makes profit for owner
–> small number of people are rich and the majority work hard in hobs they would never choose to do if they didn’t have to earn a wage
advertising -> makes people fell that money and buying things is all that matters
what are the advantages of capitalism?
- efficiency of private sector
- freedom to choose
- had led to growth in living standards e.g. technology - the internet, vaccines
- creative destruction
- no better alternative
what do marxists think about western liberal democracies –> what has it led to?
think about imperialism + colonialism
different to functionalists
- argue that these societies have come about because of the industrial revolution –> this has produced societies that are highly unequal with a huge gap between the rich and the poor
BUT –> the technological power that the industrial revolution gave these societies enabled them to dominate other cultures
–> produced imperialism - countries go beyond their borders to dominate other peoples elsewhere in the world
–> produced colonialism - involved taking over another country and running it from afar
what is class consciousness and why do marxists want people to reach it?
marxists want people to arrive at a state of class consciousness
–> the realisation that you are being oppressed = they will realise they are all in the working class together and will unite against ruling class
what hasn’t the working class united against the ruling class?
FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS
- type of brainwashing, makes you believe you benefit from capitalism
- makes you think ruling class is ‘on your side’
e.g. police is there to protect you –> marxists would say there there to keep you alive or gov is there to serve you –> marxists would say gov is there to oppress you
what is marxists idea of alienation?
- if you are member of working class living in capitalist society then your work is automatically going to be something you don’t want it to be
- you won’t see benefit of your work (is for their benefit)
- you are alienated from your labour + yourself
what do marxists argue about social progress over time to functionalists?
- functionalist argue evil practices abolished eg. slavery –> marxists would say that black people are oppressed today just as they were in the past
- funct say we no longer burn witches –> marxists would say women are still very much 2nd class citizens often confined to house
- funct say we no longer have divine right of kings –> marxists sat kings have been replaced by super wealthy capitalists
This is why marxists would say that a revolution is not something o be avoided but embraced
key study - karl marx / the communist manifesto (1948)
the communist manifesto (1948) - sets out his ideas
capital (1883) - sets out the economic basis for marxism
he has recommendation that communism would be much better for people to live in
what is communism (link to key study of marx)?
there is no private property, everyone is equal, paid the same
e.g. USSR, cuba, china tried communism but has had downfall sucess
but has it ever been tried properly?
key study - jock young (bulimic society)
focuses on crime
- What’s to be done about law and order? (1984)
has an idea called bulimic society
bulimia - hungry and then make themselves throw up
bulimic society - is a metaphor for our society
hunger for new consumer goods –> as soon as we have them, we discard them because we now want the latest more fashionable version = leads to frustrations, envy, anger and crime
young argues - capitalism itself produces crime –> capitalism is criminal
EVAL of marxism - strengths?
- is an activist perspective / wants to change society
- identifies corruption, exploitation + unfairness they argue for revolutionary social change
functionalists –> are different they defend the status quo
EVAL of marxism - weakness?
- reflected by history –> marx’s predictions about the collapse of capitalism have not come true
- regimes inspired by marxism have been corrupt, violent failures
summary of marxism and culture
- economic basis for human behaviour
- society is a conflict between ruling + working class
- false consciousness prevents class consciousness
- alienation (disconnection) leads to misery
- critical view of traditional institutions
- OPPOSSES traditional views of gender and the family
