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Marx, Marxism(s), and the Cultural Economy

This article delves into the ideas of Marx and Marxism, examining their relevance in understanding the cultural economy. It explores concepts such as base/superstructure, labor theory of value, alienation, commodification, and the transition from capitalism to socialism and communism. Additionally, it discusses the works of Max Weber, Antonio Gramsci, and Walter Benjamin in relation to the cultural economy.

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Marx, Marxism(s), and the Cultural Economy

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  1. Marx, Marxism(s), and the Cultural Economy “All that's solid melts into air”

  2. Political Economy of Media • What the EFF is it?

  3. Keynes/von Hayek • “Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem” • “How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.”

  4. Mr. Marx • Who was he? • Tribe/Slavery/Feudal/Capital • Modernity/ization • 3 “theories”

  5. Marx's Relevant Ideas • Base/superstructure or economic determinism • Economic base=mode of production • Once infrastructure modifies the superstructure will as well...ideology (ruling ideas) • Contradictions: • Capital/Labor • Bourgeoisie/Proletariat • Dialectics as “cure”

  6. History/Ideas • Materialism=thought/existence • History a byproduct of class struggle/economics NOT ideas...survival • Material conditions create consciousness/World makes our ideas • "it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence but their social existence that determines their consciousness” • False Consciousness= ideas that deceive us of our true position

  7. Labor • Division of labor= increase productivity • Labor theory of value (Ricardo) • Alienation from nature, our work, other people and ourselves • Productive means=tools/machines, replace humans...capitalists need to control the means • Productive relations= human relations • Productive forces= “tools” + human labor • New forces= new relations

  8. Labor Cont'd • Labor Power= capitalists buy all that WE have...??? • Exchange comes from variable capital to pay for labor • Surplus value= profit OR $ unpaid to work for making the commodity= EXPLOITATION

  9. Commodities • “the thing that by its properties satisfies human wants of some sort or another” • Commodity gets its soul through exchange • Commodification/commoditization? • Commodity Fetishism?

  10. In the end... • Capitalism to socialism to communism • Class consciousness= objective and subjective • Where is Marx totally wrong??? • Failed Western revolutions • Growing/Affluent middle class • Communist states, not so good • But....Marx moves us from prediction to suggestion • Communist Quiz

  11. Max Weber • Capitalism NOT solely materialist/production but market exchange • Rationalization: social life becomes calculated, efficient, controlled • Work ethic • Market • Government/Law • Science • Technology • “Iron Cage”

  12. Antonio Gramsci • Hegemony= “picture of life” and taken for granted • Counter-Hegemony • Organic intellectual • Culture in base/superstructure • The press/media???

  13. Culture Industry(ies) • H&A: industrial practices applied to culture • Standardization as the LOGIC • “always-the-same” • Cultural Industries: top down/bottom up. cultural materialism • Symbolic creativity • Commodity as text

  14. Walter Benjamin • Aura/Mechanical Reproduction • Phantasmagoria • “expression of economy in its culture”

  15. Consp. Consumption/Sign Value • Sign Value: exchange but as sign as well • Consumed AS symbols

  16. Capital(s) • Capital • Cultural Capital • Position in social hierarchy based on taste • Marker of class • Object/Embodiment • Leisure time/$pent • Subcultural Capital • Social Capital

  17. Cultural Economy • Extraction • Production • Distribution/Retail/Broadcast • Consumption • Disposal or...? • Recycle/Reproduction=Reworking existing “things” into new forms • Intellectual Property???

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