Critical Theories

Marxism

What is Marxism

• Karl Marx (1818-1883) – German philosopher

• Dominant classes create dominant ideology

• This is then seen by lower classes as natural

• Lower classes cant better themselves

• State & media spread this ideology

• Economics part of this

Marxism & Ideology

1. Ideology as a set of ideas and beliefs – Marxism – Communism – Tory Party – Environmentalists – Education system etc…

2. Marx added to this the idea that ideologies are used to lie and distort, to keep going unfair systems

3. But we don’t realise its happening to us. Dominant ideology

Class & Marxism

Who are the ruling classes today?

Do you think the class system is fair?

• In capitalism, a few own a lot (factories – land – media)

• Ruling class, Bourgeois, Proletariat

• Means of Production = objects of labour & subjects of labour

• Those few making everything & the rest working but not progressing or benefiting

Class & Marxism

• Marx defined class as something which existed in hostility because of the relationship between factory owner and factory worker

• Who owns what? Who works for who? Are they the same people?

• The dominant ideologies there to keep the fat cats in place

• If you own means of production, you can make meaning too

• Working classes have no channel or output – can’t oppose!

• How might owning the means of production allow you to produce dominant ways of thinking?

Class Consciousness

• Self awareness (or lack of) of your class• Once aware, to act in your own interest• Tendency to act in unity• Class consciousness as ideological factor (you

believe you are subordinate so act it)• Class consciousness as earned

Can awareness come through definition?

If defined, and aware, do you have to act and think like all others in your class?

Case Study

Class in NZ

A Classless Society?

• Small range of wealth

• Lack of deference to authority figures

• High levels of class mobility

• High standard of working class living compared to Europe

• Progressive labour laws

• Developed welfare state

Race & Class in NZ

• Maori and Polynesians earning less, worse jobs, more unemployed, less educated

• Conditions similar to lower classes in Europe

• Two classes – white and non white?• Class consciousness should kick in for

non white.

Today…• 1980’s economic reforms• Top 10% earned more – rest stayed same• Uneven distribution of wealth creates nouveau

riche• Lack of employment in rural areas + welfare

reform = new poverty class• 3 classes - new rich, middle class, poor – race

still big part

• However – no emphasis on historical factors, respect for work, not origin

Activity

• Define your own class• Think about the impact of class in your life.• Is class consciousness in play?

Attempt to represent this in poster form using diagrams, cut outs, drawing etc…

Present to class

• social grade social status and occupation• A upper middle class higher managerial,

administrative or professional• B middle class intermediate managerial,

administrative or professional• C1 lower middle class supervisory or clerical, junior

managerial, administrative or professional• C2 skilled working class

skilled manual workers• D working class

semi and unskilled manual workers• E lowest level of subsistence

state pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest grade workers

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