Marxism Vocabulary

Karl Marx
Georg Lukas
Antonio Gramsci
Louis Althusser

Marx believed that historical change was primarily the result of class struggle and that the State has used it's power to oppress and exploit the laboring masses for the benefit of a wealthy elite. Economic factors and the class divisions reflect adn reinforce play in a primary role determining social instutions and actions.

The base, which is most important, consists of material and economics. The base of economics, politics, and art emerges a superstructure (consists of law, politics, philosophy, religion, literature and art) "everything else". Marx believes that the economic world as a base and the rest of the world as a superstructure produced by the base.

Upper class that possesses the capital

The working class or laboring class that produces the goods, that Bourgeoisie capitalizes from.

Not necessarily money that can be exchanged for goods or labor. It is money that is used to purchase goods for the purpose of making profit.

Method of logica argumentation that typically addresses conflicting ideas or positions. (Bourgeoisie and Proliteriat struggle w/ communication, causes dialectic)

Ie: Nike, Levis, Addidas, etc..we don't make the direct product. Factory workers usually make part of the product then won't see it again or use it.

When workers use the objects they have produced.

Uses commodities , part of alienation of labor since workers produce objects (commoditities) for sale on the market.

Due to alienation of labor and use value, people tend to value each other mainly as producers and purchasers of commodities.Basically we become commodities in a capitalist market.

Detached from sense of where the product comes from. Unable to tracker the real history, or it's maker. (desks in the classroom)

"to lead" the dominance and dominant influence of one nation, group, or class over another or others. cultural manipulation and control. More psychological (consent) rather than by force (coercion). This is a power that concieves the masses and opposes vioence.

Psychological approach w/ use of force. Usually comes from cultural leadership.

Belief underlying the customs, habits, and practices common to a given social group. "an imaginary relationship of individuals to their real conditions of existence" ie, how the Proliteriat submit to the Bourgeosisie, which is an unconscious process.