A Marxist Critical Lens “All people are born alike – except republicans and democrats.” – Groucho Marx Adapted from a presentation by Kate Munsell, Natalie Gill, Kelly Cannon and Erin T Good

Before we begin… Note the following definitions: cap·i·tal·ism / ˈ kap ə dl ˌ iz ə m/ noun an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Before we begin… Note the following definitions: so·cial·ism / ˈ sōSH ə ˌ liz ə m/ noun a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Before we begin… Read the following quotes. Choose a side of the room depending on whether you agree or disagree with the quote. Be prepared to justify your position.

Agree or Disagree? "All men are created equal."

Agree or Disagree? Capitalism is a cure for poverty.

Agree or Disagree? Taxing the rich heavily is necessary.

Agree or Disagree? Government funded social programs do not benefit the poor.

Agree or Disagree? Universal healthcare is a basic human right.

Agree or Disagree? The very poor have a safety net, and do not need any further services in the US.

Agree or Disagree? Competition fosters innovation; therefore, we need capitalism.

Agree or Disagree? Big government undermines freedom and prosperity.

Agree or Disagree? A college education should be free for all.

Agree or Disagree? Socialism promotes equality for everyone, while Capitalism concentrates power to few.

A Marxist Critical Lens

Join the Party! definition Based on the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Political tendency and social content of literature Emphasize the role of class Reflects, propagates, challenges the prevailing social order “No book is genuinely free from political bias. The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.” George Orwell

Ask a Marxist! pose questions Domination and Oppression of Subordinate classes: ▫ Does the text reflect or resist a dominant ideology? Does it do both? ▫ Does the main character in a narrative affirm or resist bourgeoisie values? ▫ Whose story gets told in the text? Are lower economic groups ignored or devalued? ▫ Are values that support the dominant economic group given privilege? Look at the conditions of production for the work of art: ▫ What were the economic conditions for publication of work? ▫ Who was the audience? What does the text suggest about the values of this audience? “History calls those men the greatest who have ennobled themselves by working for the common good; experience acclaims as happiest the man who has made the greatest number of people happy.” – Karl Marx

For the People! advantages Compares societies in literature to those in real life In a historical context, can give insight to the ideals and practices of past societies Allows the reader to develop own opinions about the role of government in society “Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form.” Karl Marx

Destroy the People! disadvantages Misinterpreting the author’s message Not acknowledging other lenses exist Analysis is too narrow “The slave frees himself when, of all the relations of private property, he abolishes only the relation of slavery and thereby becomes a proletarian; the proletarian can free himself only by abolishing private property in general.” – Frederick Engels

With this Sickle and this Hammer! Marxism in other classes Marxism in Sociology Class ▫ Theories of social change ▫ Conflict between social classes ▫ Theory of Revolution- workers alienated, solution- labor union and political parties (gain control over bourgeoisies) History ▫ Behavior due to social class ▫ Viewing biases in historical documents English ▫ Marxist lens ▫ Understanding concepts “Society does not consist of individuals, but expresses the sum of interrelations, the relations within which these individuals stand.” – Karl Marx

You Say You Want a Revolution! literature To Kill a Mockingbird: Harper Lee ▫ Social and justice equality ignored: Tom Robinson The Awakening: Kate Chopin ▫ Gender inequality parallels social inequality ▫ Oppression of women (in higher classes, ironically) ▫ Man expected to be successful Lord of the Flies ▫ Primitive social order decided who would live and who would die “While the miser is merely a capitalist gone mad, the capitalist is a rational miser.” - Karl Marx

You Say You Want a Revolution! Film The Hunger Games Star Wars The Wizard of Oz Monsters Inc. Antz Titanic “The slave frees himself when, of all the relations of private property, he abolishes only the relation of slavery and thereby becomes a proletarian; the proletarian can free himself only by abolishing private property in general.” – Frederick Engels

Questions a Marxist critic will ask: application What is the economic situation of the characters? (level of luxury, need to work) What happens to them as a result of this status? How do they fare against economic and political odds? What social forces and institutions are represented in the work? What is the author’s attitude towards them? Marxism and Literary Criticism By Terry Eagleton

Questions a Marxist critic will ask: application Does the text reflect or resist a dominant ideology? Does it do both? Does the main character in a narrative affirm or resist bourgeois values? Whose story gets told in the text? Are lower economic groups ignored or devalued? Are values that support the dominant economic group given privilege? This can happen tacitly, in the way in which values are taken to be self-evident. Marxism and Literary Criticism By Terry Eagleton

Works Cited eHow Contributing Writer,. "How to use Marxist Literary Criticism." eHow eHow, Inc., 21 Sep Web.. Marxistlitcrit.html tml