Marx suggests that each class society in history has its own type of economic base and its own superstructure of institutions, shaped by the economic base. Below is a list of some of the characteristics of feudal society. You should consider how each part of the superstructure is particularly suited to economic production in such a land-based society. Institution Characteristics … [Read more...]
Hegemony Through Mass Culture
The Frankfurt School was a group of German neo-Marxists who focused on the domination of the masses through culture. They claimed that contemporary capitalist societies are ‘mass societies’ and that traditional working-class culture has been replaced by a false, trivial consumer culture, created by big business and the media in order to stupefy the masses. This is a similar idea to the ‘bread … [Read more...]
A Marxist Watches Big Brother
Find the article ‘Reality TV: the Big Brother phenomenon’ by Colin Sparks in International Socialism, April 2007 at www.isj.org.uk Read the introduction and the sections entitled ‘Really real?’; ‘Critical responses’ and ‘In conclusion’. Now answer the following questions: What types of programme are included under the heading ‘reality TV’? “The participants in the non-celebrity … [Read more...]
Marxism : Answers to QuickCheck Questions
A ‘class in itself’ is where a group (e.g. workers) share the same economic position; a ‘class for itself’ is where they recognise their shared interests as a class, i.e. they become class conscious. Both are macro theories focusing on the structure of society; both see society shaping individuals; both arose as a response to growing industrial society. The economic base. The … [Read more...]