Who The Heck Is Karl Marx?
Who The Heck Is Karl Marx?
Karl Marx, at his core definition, was a German philosopher, economist, historian, journalist, and socialist.
Widely intelligent, he embodies the understanding of ruling class systems. He and his fellow scholars
are responsible for giving birth to what is known loosely as Marxism. Not only that, his philosophies on
sociology and economic status has grown into recognized rhetoric that has a heavy hand in developing the
study of pop culture as a valued art, 25 years steeped.
What Is A Neo-Marxist Perspective
While neo-marxist perspective may carry a connotation that is akin to communism, it does not promote it.
Instead, the neo-marxist perspective can help us understand how our perceived material conditions
combined with outward economic practices shape a popular ideology about who should and should
not be empowered.
Analyzing popular culture from a marxist position exposes what we may come to identify with as
"common sense" norms, such as the taken-for-granted-assumption we accept when we see the
"typical American family" on TV. If you see this classic scene as the norm in our society, you've identified
with a taken-for-granted-granted assumption that the typical American family is "white", has two heterosexual
parents, has a "nice house", with "nice things". Even if this stereotypical "norm" isn't your norm or your friends'
and family's norm, you may still identify with it as what is considered to be "normal" and have likely found
yourself in the middle of what Marxism defines as a site of struggle text.
Commodities As A Fetish In Neo-Marxism
In main-stream pop culture fetish commodities arise from what society deems as desirable
regardless of the means of production, example: Nike. The quality of Nike products has been
easily recognized for its controversy throughout the years. Whether it has been their labor practices,
sustainability, or quality of their products, Nike's means of production, overall, have been in
question many times in recent years, yet their commodity and desirability as a socioeconomic status
symbol has remained relatively unchanged.
Why I shop for Nike products:
"Everyone loves Nike, and if I put all of my children in Nike shoes, clothing, and accessories,
something 'good' will happensociety will either deem me and my family as desirable,
no one will notice my material struggle, or both."
Likewise, fetish commodities can also have a special appearance, like they have magically
manifested from nowhere and are dominantly desirable, but that is a topic
for a different blog post, one that can be connected by subculture to pop culture references.
Marxist Positions When Analyzing Pop Culture Texts
We analyze pop culture texts for various reasons. We can identify and discern our
own perspectives on varying important topics when we study pop culture artifacts
(Tik Tok Challenge, Netflix, Nike Shoes, "I support President Biden.", "I'm a conservative.",
Climate Change, etc.) and their influence over our lives, status, and values.
Neo-marxism offers a vessel to conceptualize the many aspects which contribute to one's capacity
to conceive and decide what they consider to be desirable and undesirable,
disempowered and empowered(by society), and determine where they fit-in, want to fit-in, and do
not fit-in. Naturally, this is where our psychological and sociological
\theories began to predominate.
Pop culture can prelude or outright determine society's view on ethical, valuable, and statistical normality,
but ultimately it is the individual who discerns and determines
these parameters for themselves. As such, we are individually empowered. Studies such as Marxism
in pop culture provide a means to navigate the "further" of
these taken-for-granted assumptions we are all subjected to and apply them in our everyday.
An insightful examination of the Neo-Marxist perspective delves into the concept of Fetishism in Neo-Marxism and the Marxist stance when scrutinizing messages embedded in popular culture. Drawing parallels to the questioning of production means in the Nike example, one is reminded of a similar phenomenon surrounding the commodity fetishism associated with pineapples and their historical significance in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThe narrative unfolds as Spanish explorers, under the leadership of Christopher Columbus, introduced the pineapple—a newly discovered fruit from South America—to European shores. In Europe, the pineapple swiftly acquired the status of a rare and highly coveted delicacy, particularly among royalty and aristocracy. Notably, the allure of this exotic fruit was accentuated by the prolonged delivery period and means of transportation, which necessitated months of oceanic travel from South America to Europe.
According to Historic UK, the exclusivity of pineapple consumption was such that only the exceedingly wealthy could indulge in this tropical delight. Renowned figures of the time, including Charles II, Catherine the Great, Louis XV, and King Ferdinand of Spain, were among the illustrious patrons of this coveted fruit.
The pineapple's esteemed status, however, underwent a transformative shift as it began to be cultivated within Europe. With local cultivation reducing the delivery time and cost, the prices of pineapples experienced a significant decline. Consequently, this once-exclusive fruit became more accessible, transitioning from being a luxury reserved for the elite to a commodity enjoyed by a broader spectrum of society, including both commoners and the aristocracy.