Blog Post #4

Marxism is a school of analysis that may be applied to criticizing society, media, or both. Marxism emphasizes and criticizes two main concepts that govern society: the base and the superstructure. Both concepts are viewed in the light of “materialism”, which suggests that everything is shaped by the economic system of a society, from individual thoughts to a culture’s identity. Under this umbrella concept is where the base--the economic system, and the superstructure--the institution and values of a society exist. The two go hand in hand, for one does not solely dictate the other and both work to shape society on different levels. Because of this structure, media serves a vital role in society, for it provides a link between the base and the superculture. One idea central to Marxism is the distinct separation of classes, and the conflicts that arise from the gap that they demonstrate. Two specific classes that can be used to assign citizens are the Bourgeoise and the Proletariat. The Proletariat is made up of what we refer to as the “working class”, or the large mass of workers who are exploited by the “ruling class”.  In contrast, the Bourgeois, or our idea of the “upper class” consists of individuals that own factories and corporations, as well as the larger portion of wealth. Because of this disparity in wealth and status, Marxism contends that the Bourgeois class is the “ruling class” and constantly engages in deceitful tactics in order to manipulate the masses and thus avoid any conflicts that may disrupt the status quo. This idea is expressed in many facets of Marxism, such as the media’s tendency to alienate the Proletariat and result in a “false consciousness” in which their thoughts, while seemingly their own, are made into nothing but a product of commercialism, consumerism, and the desired existing order of the Bourgeoise. However, Marxist criticism is a heavily debated device through which to analyze the world, and can oftentimes result in a dangerous polarization of perception.