Marx (1818-1883) divided society into two major classes; the bourgeoisie, or the capitalist society, who owns the means of production and the proletarian, or working class, who only owns their ability to work. This implies that the proletarian have no option but to work for the capitalists.
Marx argued, in Das Kapital (first edition published 1867), that the fundamental condition of a capitalist society is the exploitation of the worker’s labour by the capitalists. The worker does not receive full value of his labour because it is siphoned off, as surplus value, into the capitalists’ profits. The unregulated labour does not oblige the capitalist to pay the worker value for his labour.
Marx, and Engels (1820-1895), believed the exploitation of these workers led to class struggle, “the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle” ( The Communist Manifesto; 1848), and capitalist society results in class domination.
This ultimately leads to the development of ‘class consciousness’; a perspective of the world determined by economic position.
Theories which position economic relations as the basis of social phenomena are called materialist theories, and Marx's version is known as 'historical materialism'.
Key Marxist concepts can be applied to visual culture, especially the role of the mass media in the reproduction of status quo. The media is viewed as an ideological form where these class views are fought out. Media professionals, while enjoying an illusion of autonomy, are socialised into and internalise the norms of dominant culture. The media then relay interpretative frameworks consonant with the interests of the dominant class. Dominant classes may use the media to perpetuate class relations to benefit them or the media may be used to undermine the power of the dominant class. Audiences, while sometimes negotiating and contesting these frameworks, lack ready access to alternative meaning systems that would enable them to reject the definitions offered by the media ( - The Frankfurt School; the hypodermic needle mode; Adorno : S.W).
• What did Marx mean by Base and Superstructure?
Marx uses the base and the superstructure as a metaphor for capitalist social structure. The base, the economy, which includes relations of production is the foundation and determines the superstructure, society, which is the forms of state (including social, political and intellectual consciousness). Ideology and Cultural Hegemony are part of the superstructure which is subordinate to the base.
Base and superstructure model is a two-way interrelationship and when applied to the mass media it associated with control and ownership (ultimate control resulting in monopolies).
• Of the different ways of looking at the subject outlined by Chandler which makes most sense to you? Why?
Out of the different ways of looking at the subject outlined by Chandler, the one that make the most sense is the fundamentalist Marxist tradition interpretation of the ‘culture industries’; that is, in terms of their economic determination.
It makes the most sense as the contents and meanings of the media and its messages are primarily determined by the economic base of the organisations in which they are produced. These organisations are controlled by the dominant class which reinforces their control and strengthens their consciousness through ideology. Thus, the ideology is subordinate to the economic base.
• Does your understanding of base and superstructure vary as to whether you are looking at society in general or the media and arts?
My understanding of the base and the superstructure does not vary whether you are looking at society in general or the media and the arts because the ideas we form about the media and art are part of the superstructure. The economy informs the superstructure.
Though, I am questioning this understanding because what is proposed by Althusserian Marxists; the relative autonomy of the superstructure in relation to the base and the reciprocal action of the superstructure on the base.
Bibliography
Chandler, D., 2000. Marxist Media Theory, "Base and Superstructure". [online] Available at: < http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/marxism/marxism02.html> [Accessed 25 September 2010]
D’Alleva, Anne. (2005) Methods & Theories of Art History. London: Laurence King Publishing.
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