Marxism

This blog is in response to a Thinking Activity given by our professor Dilip Barad sir. In this blog I am going to Write about Marxism and how we can apply this theory in movies or in literary text.

Here is sir's Youtube Video. you can go there and know more about this theory. 

Marxism

Marxism, as a comprehensive and influential ideology, has left a lasting imprint on the fields of economics, sociology, political theory, and history. It offers a holistic perspective on the development of human society, with a focus on the dynamics of power, class conflict, and economic structures. One of its enduring contributions is the critical analysis of capitalism, which has led to important insights into the inequalities and exploitation inherent in market-driven economies. By highlighting the central role of class struggle, Marxism has provided a framework for understanding historical change, social movements, and revolutions, inspiring numerous movements for social and economic justice around the world.

Marxism's emphasis on the labor theory of value and surplus extraction has had a profound impact on economic thought, prompting ongoing debates about the nature of value and the distribution of wealth in society. Its call for a classless, communist society, while often criticized for the practical challenges of implementation, remains a utopian vision that continues to inspire discussions about alternative economic and political systems. The concept of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" and the role of the state in the transition to communism have also sparked debates about the nature of political power and its relation to revolutionary change.

Critics of Marxism argue that its historical implementations, such as in the Soviet Union, led to authoritarian regimes and human rights abuses. Nonetheless, Marxism's critiques of inequality, exploitation, and the role of ideology in maintaining power structures have remained relevant and continue to influence contemporary social and political discourse. In essence, Marxism's enduring legacy lies in its capacity to provide a critical lens through which to analyze and challenge the structures of power, wealth, and inequality in the modern world, even as its practical application remains a subject of ongoing debate and contention.

The Origins of Marxism

In terms of practical political struggle, Marxism arose in the mid-nineteenth century in opposition to three main opposing tendencies in the workers’ movement: Anarchism, Utopian or Doctrinaire socialism, and overtly bourgeois tendencies (see Communist Manifesto, Chapter 4). In terms of its theoretical roots, to use Lenin’s famous words, the three sources of Marxism are: British political economy, French Socialism and German idealist philosophy.

At that time, the advocates of socialism were relatively charismatic individuals who promoted some particular vision of a future society and an associated body of doctrine, who each collected a following around them. These groups shared a more or less common vision of a socialist future and participated in the struggles of the day, but the movement lacked any scientific basis in existing conditions and furthermore, offered to teach the workers about socialism, but had no conception of socialism as the self-emancipation of the working class.

Frustrated with this lack of theoretical seriousness, Marx and Engels made a decisive turn towards critique of the existing ideology in order to be able to found a revolutionary working class movement upon a sound basis.

The very way in which Marx approached the critical assimilation and transcendence of philosophy, socialism and political economy was itself gained from these same intellectual sources in bourgeois society.

The pre-eminent philosopher of Marx’s youth was G W F Hegel. However, ten years after Hegel’s death, i.e., in 1841, Hegel was unceremoniously dumped by the Prussian ruling class and came under attack from all sides. After 1841, Hegel was decidedly unfashionable.

Hegel’s great achievement was to have shown how the forms by which human beings grasp reality are themselves historical products. In other words, the history of philosophy contained within it an on-going critique of all the cultural and ideological forms that have succeeded one another through human history, a practical critique which was the work, not just of professional philosophers, but engaged by all aspects of the life of society.

For Hegel however, this history was the work not of living human beings, but rather of a Spirit which acted “behind the backs” of the actors in history, unbeknown to them. In this sense, Marx said that Hegel took “the standpoint of political economy”. That is, that Hegel, just like Adam Smith, saw people as slaves of an “invisible hand”, of laws which governed the outcome of social action independently of the intention of individuals, and what is more, that the fundamental relations of person to person by means of which this spirit acted in history, was the property relation.

The first positive insight into the fallacy of this view was provided by Ludwig Feuerbach, who showed that Hegel had created a kind of theology, and that far from people being governed by either God or Hegel’s Absolute Spirit, these concepts were created by people as reflections of the way they lived; for Feuerbach, the truth of religion and philosophy lay in anthropology and physiology.

Meanwhile, the French socialists had already taken this a step further by showing that science and religion not only had their origins in human history, but were themselves weapons and instruments of social struggle. Consequently, people should not be seen simply as creatures of the social system of which they were a part (the standpoint of anthropology) nor as simply products of Nature, but rather that people were both products and creators of the world they lived in, and the struggle over ideas was an integral part of the political and social struggle.

It should be noted at this point that Marx did not claim, and nor do Marxists today claim, to be the originator of some brand new kind of knowledge. Marx’s own claim to original ideas was extremely modest. We stand on the shoulders of the achievements of those who have gone before; but we subject the theories and ideas active in society to critique. That is to say, we understand ideas as products and a part of social relations, which function in one way or another to sustain the social relations that they reflect. In particular, attention is directed to the social relations by means of which people produce and reproduce their livelihood and the labor activity itself through which people live, This is after the foundation upon which the basis for the entire superstructure of society is erected, and which underlies all forms of thought and culture. By critique is meant the disclosure of this ideological kernel, the social interest which is expressed in and sustained by this or that form of thought, which actually connects it to the real, material life of people.

Marxism as Critical Theory:-

Marxism is often regarded as a critical theory, although it is not limited to the field of critical theory as a whole. Critical theory is a broader intellectual tradition that includes various schools of thought, of which Marxism is one significant strand. Here's how Marxism can be seen as a form of critical theory:

1. Critique of Society: Marxism, at its core, offers a critical analysis of capitalist societies. It seeks to uncover and critique the social, economic, and political inequalities and injustices inherent in capitalism. Marxists argue that the capitalist system perpetuates exploitation, alienation, and class struggle, which must be challenged and transformed.

2. Emphasis on Power and Ideology: Critical theory, including the Marxist tradition, places a strong emphasis on understanding power dynamics and the role of ideology in maintaining social structures. Marxists assert that the ruling class uses ideology to legitimize its power and control over society, and they aim to reveal these ideological mechanisms to expose the realities of class-based oppression.

3. Historical Materialism: Marxists employ historical materialism to analyze the ways in which economic structures shape social relations, ideologies, and historical developments. This approach critically examines how the material conditions of a society influence its cultural, political, and economic institutions.

4. Calls for Transformation: Like other critical theories, Marxism is not content with mere analysis; it calls for social transformation. Marxists advocate for revolutionary change to overthrow the capitalist system and establish a classless, communist society, which they see as a means to address the injustices they critique.

5. Engagement with Social Issues: Critical theories, including Marxism, engage with pressing social issues and are concerned with understanding and rectifying societal problems. This includes topics like inequality, exploitation, labor rights, and the role of the state.

It's important to note that while Marxism is a form of critical theory, critical theory as a broader tradition encompasses various other approaches, such as the Frankfurt School's Critical Theory, which expanded upon Marx's ideas and integrated elements of sociology and philosophy to examine culture, media, and the role of the individual in contemporary society.

In summary, Marxism is a significant component of critical theory, offering a critical perspective on capitalism and class struggle, while critical theory encompasses a wider range of approaches for analyzing and critiquing societal structures and power dynamics.

Exploring Marxism's Influence in Literature and Film

Here are two different examples, one from literature and one from Films, that demonstrate the influence of Marxism:

Novel: "The Iron Heel" by Jack London

Published in 1908, "The Iron Heel" by Jack London is a dystopian novel that predated George Orwell's "1984" and Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World." The novel is set in a future where a powerful oligarchy, known as the Iron Heel, oppresses the working class. Some Marxist themes in the book include:

1. Class Struggle: The novel centers around the conflict between the oppressed working class and the oppressive capitalist regime. It highlights the struggles of the labor movement in the face of brutal repression.

2. Exploitation: "The Iron Heel" vividly portrays the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class, emphasizing the economic and social inequalities that result from the capitalist system.

3. Revolution: The novel explores the possibility of a proletarian revolution to overthrow the oppressive regime, which is a central theme in Marxism.

4. Class Consciousness: The book delves into the development of class consciousness among the workers and their efforts to unite against the capitalist rulers.

Film: "Modern Times" (1936) 

Directed by Charlie Chaplin

"Modern Times" is a classic silent film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin. While often considered a comedy, it contains strong social commentary influenced by Marxist ideas, particularly during the Great Depression. Key elements reflecting Marxism in the film include:

1. Alienation and Dehumanization: The film satirizes the dehumanizing effects of modern industrialization and mass production on the working class. The character of the Tramp, played by Chaplin, represents the common worker who is reduced to a cog in the machine.

2. Exploitation: "Modern Times" highlights the exploitation of labor, as factory workers are subjected to repetitive, monotonous tasks with no regard for their well-being.

3. Economic Inequality: The film portrays stark economic disparities, with the wealthy factory owners living in opulence while the workers struggle to make ends meet. This reflects Marxist critiques of capitalism's unequal distribution of wealth.

4. Worker Solidarity: The film showcases moments of solidarity among the workers as they face adversity, emphasizing the importance of collective action.

Both "The Iron Heel" and "Modern Times" use literature and film, respectively, to critique the capitalist system, highlight class struggle and exploitation, and emphasize the need for collective action in the face of economic inequality.

Here is link of my blog:-https://drashtijoshi.blogspot.com/2022/12/frame-study-of-modern-times-by-charlie.html

Thank you so much for reading this blog...

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