In reading Dr. Craig's post, I was struck by some of his ideas and was able to, at least I hope; gain a better understanding of Marxism and Marxist theory. I thought that his first examples of the Communist Manifesto and Che Guevara supported the Marxist idea that a works meaning is relevant to the time. Today, the Manifesto does not hold the same meaning that it did when it was first published. Back then it meant danger to our capitalist society. The threat of communism and Marx's ideas created paranoia in our country and fear in the ruling class. As Dr. Craig said today the Manifesto serves only as a symbol of rebellion in this society, no longer a true threat. I found it an interesting point that while the Manifesto is used in a store display to encourage rebellion from society, true communist ideas are lost in the fact that it is not being used to "inspire action" but seems to support the class division that a sweat shop implies. This supports the greater ideas of hegemonic control.
I think that I was most interested in Dr. Craig's point that "American ruling class ideology continuously spins narratives that attempt to limit the working class’s ability to recognize and respond to its own subjugation." I never thought of ideology working in this way before. I know that in class we discussed how in hegemonic society we buy into the ideologies of the ruling class and accept them as just the way things are, but I think that Dr. Craig did a great job of explaining this idea further. In his sports analogy he discussed how the sports industry targets working class people in its advertising. By cheering for our teams at a game, going to a sports bar to watch the game or throwing a Superbowl party we experience release of the frustrations that we deal with on a daily basis that "result from working in a low-wage job." However in providing this release, the ruling class is also making money. When people go out like this they spend money- on tickets, food, beer and souvenirs. So, while the working class is releasing tensions brought on by the ruling class, the ruling class is still making money. A distraction from the working classes discontent. I also find the idea that "When the ruling class convinces working people that corporate profits are actually a good sign for all – all boats rise in the rising tide sort of thing – it encourages them to believe in the virtues of an economic system that does not have their best interest in mind." supports the point about how we go along with the ideologies of the ruling class because we have accepted them as the way things are.
Thank you again Dr.Craig.
Ciao until next time!
15 years ago
4 comments:
Nice work, Ms. Bean. I particularly like the title of your post. Just one comment. There are still many people, of course, who find value in the Manifesto and Marx's ideas. The ruling class may try to appropriate these ideas in order to diminish them. But they have not been completely successful.
I particularly like your observation in the beginning when you said that certain works, such as the Manifesto, have a meaning that changes substantially overtime. A work is very much so the most relevant within the time it was produced. Before, Marxist ideas in America were forbidden and cast down, and now they are representative of positive qualities such as "unique" and "different." This idea goes completely against liberal humanism.
Yes, I agree with your Communist Manifesto comment and it's relevance in time. The meaning of the book (at least to the people who do not believe or are ignorant to what communism stands for,) is only a way of rebelling against the government while still being trendy! I love the irony of the communist book in the middle of clothes that were probably produced in sweatshops. Even if they weren't - all it is still saying is consume consume consume!
Hey Ms. Bean! I took persuasive statiges with Chris Craig last year and I remember having this huge debate about sports in his class. Some kids in out class got so angry when he tired to make sports into somthing bad like making money for the already rich. Nobody wanted to believe that espically the die hard red sox fans in our class. It turned into a heated arguement. It was great. In my opinion I agree that yes people are making money on sports but then again who doesn't enjoy a good Red sox Game?
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