Marxist Flashcards
What is Marxist criticism
founded on the belief that the text is determined by historical conditions, and that historical change is driven ultimately by social and economic factors
value of labour, the priority of matter over mind, and the ultimate social structure as one without classes or hierarchies
What are the 2 main class divisions
Bourgeois and Proletariat
Define Bourgeois
Those who are economically and socially privileged
Those who have power
They are considered to be the wealthy class that often exploit the working class
Define Proletariat
Those who do not have economic or social power
They are often restricted by their social class
They are considered to be the working class, who work for the bourgeois
Define Marx’s First Premise
that human survival depends on “conquering” and “enslaving” nature, as only the control of nature will produce things needed for survival.
Define Marx’s Second Premise
humans need help from each other to produce the means of their survival, and that there is “strength in numbers”. He believed that no human could survive in isolation
What did Marx believe about Aristotle’s view
art is “mimetic” – that art imitates life
What did Marx believe that literature gave us
representations of actual material conditions of existence (both economic, and physical)
Define allegorical
An allegory uses a simple literal text to make a deeper point, or teach a lesson, about humans and society
approaches for reading texts (esp. the novel), in order to translate symbols and images, in search for political allegories
Define Capitalism in Marxist Theory
economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and the exploitation of the working class (proletariat) by the ruling class (bourgeoisie).
What does Marxist believe capitalism do
creates inequality, as wealth and power concentrate in the hands of a few, while workers are alienated from their labor.
Define socialism
between capitalism and communism. It aims to eliminate class struggles by collectively owning the means of production, distributing wealth more equally, and ensuring that workers control economic and political power.
Define Ideology
refers to a set of beliefs, values, and ideas that serve the interests of the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and help maintain the power dynamics of society.
What does marxist argue about ideology
ideology is used to justify and legitimize social inequality, making the exploitation of the working class (proletariat) appear natural or inevitable.
Define Value of labour
In Marxist theory, the value of labor is the worth of a worker’s effort. Marx argued that workers are paid less than the value they create, with the extra value taken by capitalists, causing exploitation.
Define Matter over mind
In Marxist theory, matter over mind means that people’s ideas are shaped by their material conditions (like their economy and class) rather than their thoughts shaping reality.
Define Social structure/hierarchy
In Marxist theory, social structure/hierarchy refers to society being divided into classes, mainly the rich (bourgeoisie) and the poor (proletariat), where the rich exploit the poor for profit.
