Marxism and Exchange Value

1) Even if there are no true Marxist societies on Earth, what does Marxist theory “give” us in terms of interpretation?Marxist theory gives a meaningful way to understand history and current events Pg.532) What would Marxist critics say about psychoanalytical theory?They would say that because we focus on the individual psyche and its roots in the family complex, psychoanalysis distracts our attention from the real forces that create human experience: the economic systems that structure human societies. Pg.

533) In Marxist terminology, what are economic conditions referred to as? Material circumstances Pg.544) In what ways do differences in socioeconomic class divide people?They are divided into the “haves” and “have-nots”, or simply stated, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Pg.545) Explain the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.The bourgeoisies are those who control the world’s natural, economic, and human resources.

They are considered to be the higher class. The proletariats represent the majority of the global population that lives in poverty and those that always perform manual labor. They are considered the lower class. Pg.

546) What is the aristocracy?The “Aristocracy” represents those that are higher than the upper class. Usually, money is never a problem for them. People of the aristocracy can purchase things like mansions, limousines, airplanes, and yachts. Pg.557) What other forms of oppression keep the underclasses down?Provide some examples from real-life. The neighbor hoods they live in Crime Increasing price on everything (i.

e gas, rent, bills, etc.) Pg. 568) For Marxism, what is an ideology?Provide an example or two to help highlight this concept. An ideology is a belief system that is the product of cultural conditioning. Ex#1: The American dream, the belief that if one works hard enough, they will be able to achieve their goals of rising up in the socioeconomic system. Pg.

569) By posing as natural ways of seeing the world, what do repressive ideologies prevent us from understanding?It prevents us from understanding the material/historical conditions in which we live because we refuse to acknowledge that these conditions have any effect on the way we see the world. Pg.56/5710) How have the members of your group been programmed by ideology?We’ve been programmed to believe that we need to buy the latest thing to be able to be content with ourselves. It isn’t enough that we buy the newest thing, but it also has to be better than that of our friends. This is the doing of capitalism.

11) Read the American Dream from a Marxist perspective (See page 57). The creation of the American Dream is a direct cause of capitalism. Capitalism tells us to buy new things for the sake of buying things. More often than not, those that buy goods in a capitalist economy simply do so to flaunt their wealth to others.

It is because of this ideology that we feel the need to go out and “compete” with one another, in regards to who buy’s better things. This ideology is seen a lot in movies. For example, the typical competition between two neighbors. One says that they recently bought a new 50 inch TV. As a result, the other neighbor will most likely go out and buy a TV of a bigger size. Marxism tells us the success of the American Dream comes from the misery of the many.

For example, those who own corporations across seas, some have used child labor to make their products.12) What is Classism?An ideology that equates one’s value as a human being with the social lass to which one belongs. Pg.5913) What is Patriotism?An ideology that keeps poor people fighting wars against other poor people from different countries, while the rich on both sides take in the profits of the war-time economy. Pg.5914) What does Marx mean when he says that religion is the “opiate of the masses”?Opiate, which is derived from the drug opium that is highly addictive a, is used to symbolize the poor’s constant faith towards their lot in life.

Pg.5915) How does consumerism play a role in Marxist theory?Consumerism is the ideology that says “I’m only as good as what I buy” A Marxist critic would say that this is result of another ideology, capitalism. If we are simply buying things to fill our insecurities, it shows that capitalism has greater influence in our lives than we imagined. It is because of this ideology that we care so much about what people think of us. And because we care what people think, we buy expensive items to boost our image so as to not let other think less of us. Pg.

6016) Provide an example where Marx is more of a student of human behavior, and not an economist. What specifically rubbed him the wrong way? Why?His concern for the effect of factory work on people who were forced to sell their labor to the industries that were replacing independent artisans and farmers. What he was more concerned about was the rise of a capitalist economy and the effects it would have on human values. A capitalist economy made an objects value become impersonal. For example, those who worked in factories made several items, but were unable to associate themselves with the product they created. The system of factory work disassociated the workers from their labor, also known as alienated labor.

Pg.6117) Marxist insights into human behavior involve the damaging effects of capitalism on human psychology. Explain commodification. How are human beings commodities?Commodification is the act of relating to objects or persons in terms of their exchange value or sign-exchange value. Exchange value represents the money or other commodities that can be traded for said item. Sign exchange value represents the social status that the item confers on its owner.

An example of commodification would be if I were to buy an expensive house as an investment or with the intentions of impressing my friends with my new house; however, if were to constantly buy expensive items to demonstrate my wealth to others I would be guilt of conspicuous consumption. Human beings are commodities when we structure our relations with them to promote our own advancement financially or socially. For example, do I choose to compete for a college that will give me more money (exchange value), or on how much I think the college I go to will impress my friends and family (sign-exchange value).18) What does it mean to “colonize” the “consciousness” of subordinate peoples?It means, to convince people to see their situation the way imperialist nations wants them to see it.

It makes people think that they are inadequate and are better off living their lives under the guidance of the superior. Pg.6319) Provide an example of how Marxism plays a role in the way we can read a text. Compare it to Psychoanalytical Criticism.In Death of a Salesman, a psychoanalytic reading of the play would focus on the individual psyche as the product of the family. From a Marxist perspective, the focus would be the ways in which the psychological problems of the characters are produced by the material/historical realities within which the family operates.

For example, in a psychoanalytic reading, many of Willy’s problems would be the result of his insecurities; however, in a Marxist reading of the play, Willy’s problems can be seen as the direct result of the American Dream. It is the American Dream that tells him that he is not good enough, and that the only way to be “better” is through economic success.20) The fact that literature grows out of and reflects real material/historical conditions, what two possibilities are of interest to the Marxist Critic?The literary work might tend to reinforce in the reader the ideologies it embodies. It might invite the reader to criticize the ideologies it represents.