What is Marxism? | Literary Theory: Marxism | Base & Superstructure | Capitalist & Communist Society

Summary

In this educational video, the concepts of Marxism are explored, focusing on the base and superstructure, and the division of society into two classes: the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. The video explains how the bourgeoisie class exploits the working class, especially after the Industrial Revolution. It contrasts capitalist societies, characterized by private ownership and profit maximization, with communist societies that promote equal wealth distribution and a classless structure. The video concludes by highlighting the support of Marxism for a cooperative, rather than competitive, society, and mentions 'The Communist Manifesto' by Marx and Engels.

Takeaways

• 📚 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are the founding figures of Marxism, which is a critical perspective on socio-economic conditions.
• 🏭 Post-Industrial Revolution society is divided into two main classes: the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (wealthy class who own the means of production).
• 💼 The bourgeoisie class exploits the proletariat by paying low wages and maintaining oppressive relationships, leading to a divide where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
• 🏢 The concept of 'base' in Marxism represents the economic infrastructure, including the means of production owned by the bourgeoisie, and the relations of production between the two classes.
• 🏬 'Superstructure' refers to social institutions like education, family, religion, politics, and mass media, which are used by the bourgeoisie to maintain and legitimize the unequal power relations of the base.
• 🌐 The superstructure serves as an instrument of power to convince the working class that the status quo is normal and acceptable.
• 🏦 In a capitalist society, the means of production are privately owned, operated for profit, and the government's role is minimal, focusing mainly on tax collection.
• 🌍 Marxism opposes capitalist society due to the inherent exploitation and oppression of the working class by the bourgeoisie.
• 🕊️ A communist society, exemplified by places like Denmark, is characterized by equal wealth distribution, government ownership, and a focus on collective advancement over individual gain.
• 🔄 In communism, there is no class distinction, private property is prohibited, and cooperation is emphasized over competition.
• 📜 The Communist Manifesto, written by Marx and Engels in 1848, outlines their vision for a communist society and the principles of Marxism.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video on 'Marxism'?

The video focuses on explaining the concepts of base and superstructure, the two types of classes (proletariat and bourgeoisie), and the differences between capitalist and communist societies as per Marxist theory.

Who are the founding figures of Marxism?

The German philosopher Karl Marx and the German sociologist Frederick Engels are the founding figures of Marxism.

What does Marxism believe about human beings in relation to socio-economic conditions?

Marxism believes that human beings are mainly divided by their socio-economic conditions, leading to the creation of different social classes.

What are the two main classes that emerged after the Industrial Revolution according to the video?

After the Industrial Revolution, two main classes emerged: the proletariat class (working class) and the bourgeoisie class (rich people who owned the means of production).

What is the role of the bourgeoisie class in the capitalist society as described in the video?

In the capitalist society, the bourgeoisie class owns the factories and means of production, hires the working class, and often oppresses them by paying low wages.

Can you explain the concept of 'base' in Marx's architectural metaphor?

In Marx's architectural metaphor, 'base' refers to the ground floor of a building, representing the economic structure of society, including the means of production and the relations of production.

What is 'superstructure' and how does it relate to the 'base'?

Superstructure is the first floor of the building in Marx's metaphor, representing social institutions like education, family, religion, politics, and mass media. It is shaped by the base and is used by the bourgeoisie to maintain and legitimize the unequal power relationships.

What is the main goal of a capitalist society according to the video?

In a capitalist society, the main goal is profit maximization and wealth accumulation, with privately owned and operated means of production and minimal government intervention.

How does a communist society differ from a capitalist society?

A communist society is characterized by an equal distribution of wealth, government ownership of all resources, and a focus on the advancement of the entire nation rather than individuals. It is a classless society with no bourgeoisie or proletariat classes.

What are some examples of communist society in literature mentioned in the video?

Plato's 'Republic' and Thomas More's 'Utopia' are mentioned as early examples of communist society in literature.

What significant document did Karl Marx and Frederick Engels write together in 1848?

Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848, which outlined their vision for a communist society.