164 Karl Marx

Oct 17, 2018

In this discussion, Mike Palindrome, President of the Literature Supporters Club and a dedicated literary theorist, examines Karl Marx's lasting impact on literature and society. They explore how Marx's ideas on labor and inequality transformed literary criticism, particularly through Marxist theory. The conversation touches on Marx's personal struggles, his significant works like The Communist Manifesto, and the ongoing relevance of his thoughts in today's socio-economic climate. Plus, they recommend essential readings for deepening literary understanding!

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

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Broaden Your Perspective: The Power of Literature and Ideas

02:53 • 2min

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Marx's Ideological Legacy

05:03 • 20min

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Exploring the Intersection of Marxism and Literature

24:48 • 4min

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Navigating Literary Theory and Marxism

28:27 • 20min

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Marx's Insights on Labor and Happiness

48:24 • 5min

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Unpacking Literary Theories

53:04 • 11min

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Exploring Literary Theory and Upcoming Themes

The political unconscious

Fredric Jameson

Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses

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Louis Althusser

The year of reading dangerously

Andy Miller

Debt

The First 5,000 Years

David Graeber

In this book, David Graeber argues that debt has a much longer history than money and that it has played a central role in shaping human societies. He debunks the myth of barter as the precursor to money, instead proposing that credit systems and debt were the primary means of trade. Graeber examines how debt has been used as a tool for social control, influenced law, religion, and politics, and has led to periodic crises and debtor revolts throughout history. The book also discusses the moral and social implications of debt, suggesting that the concept of debt is more complex than a simple economic transaction.

What Is to Be Done?

Michael R. Katz

William G. Wagner

Nikolai Chernyshevsky

Written in 1863 by Nikolai Chernyshevsky, 'What Is to Be Done? ' is a novel that had a significant influence on Russian revolutionary thought. The story follows Viéra Pavlovna, a young woman who seeks economic independence and starts a cooperative workshop for seamstresses. The novel promotes the creation of small socialist cooperatives, advocates for women's rights, and critiques the patriarchal and authoritarian structures of Russian society. It was written in response to Ivan Turgenev's 'Fathers and Sons' and played a central role in polarizing the Russian intelligentsia between radical and liberal reformers. The novel's impact was so profound that it contributed to the conflicts leading up to the Russian Revolution.

Of grammatology

Jacques Derrida

In *Of Grammatology*, Jacques Derrida critiques traditional Western philosophy by challenging the binary oppositions and logocentrism that underpin it. He argues that these oppositions, such as speech vs. writing, are not fixed but interdependent and can be deconstructed. Derrida uses the works of Rousseau and Lévi-Strauss to illustrate his points and proposes a new science of writing, or grammatology, which seeks to understand the complex play of signs and meanings. The book is a seminal work in deconstruction and has had a significant impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and intellectual history.

The Essence of Christianity

Ludwig Feuerbach

Ludwig Feuerbach's "The Essence of Christianity," published in 1841, is a significant work in the philosophy of religion. Feuerbach argues that religious beliefs are projections of human nature and desires onto a supernatural being. He critiques traditional theology, suggesting that God is a human creation rather than a transcendent entity. Feuerbach's work influenced Karl Marx and other thinkers, contributing to the development of secular humanist thought. His critique of religion as an alienation of human essence has had a lasting impact on philosophical and theological discussions. The book remains a key text in understanding the relationship between religion, philosophy, and human experience.

The postmodern condition

Jean-Francois Lyotard

Jean-François Lyotard's "The Postmodern Condition" is a seminal work in postmodern thought, exploring the nature of knowledge and its relationship to power in contemporary society. Lyotard argues that postmodernity is characterized by a decline of grand narratives and a proliferation of localized knowledge systems. He introduces the concept of legitimation by paralogy, suggesting that knowledge is increasingly validated through consensus rather than objective truth. The book examines the impact of technology and information on knowledge production and dissemination. Lyotard's work has had a significant influence on various fields, including critical theory, cultural studies, and education.

The Communist Manifesto

In 'Mythologies', Roland Barthes examines the myths that permeate everyday French culture in the 1950s. The book is divided into two parts: the first part consists of 53 short essays that Barthes wrote for the literary magazine 'Les Lettres Nouvelles', analyzing various cultural phenomena such as wrestling, wine, the Tour de France, and fashion trends. These essays reveal how myths are used to shape public opinion and reinforce middle-class or 'bourgeois' views. The second part provides a theoretical discussion of myth, building on the work of Ferdinand de Saussure, and argues that myth is a 'second-order' system that imposes new meanings on existing signs, thereby serving as a powerful tool for promoting social and political agendas.

Karl Marx (1818-1883) turned his early interest in literature and philosophy into a lifelong study of the socioeconomic forces unleashed by the rise of capitalism. His works The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, among others, influenced the course of the twentieth century like few others. But who was Karl Marx? How did his ideas become so widespread? And how did his thinking and writing impact literature? We'll talk about Karl Marx and Marxist Literary Theory with Mike Palindrome, the President of the Literature Supporters Club, who has spent more than twenty years reading literary theory as an amateur enthusiast.

Mike's recommendations:

"Ideological and Ideological State Apparatuses" by Louis Althusser

Mythologies by Roland Barthes

Debt: The First 5,000 Years by Daniel Graeber

The Political Unconscious by Fredric Jameson

Utopia or Bust by Benjamin Kunkel

The Year of Dreaming Dangerously by Slavoj Zizek

What is to be Done? by Vladimir Lenin

Support the show at patreon.com/literature. Find out more at historyofliterature.com, jackewilson.com, or by following Jacke and Mike on Twitter at @thejackewilson and @literatureSC. Or send an email to jackewilsonauthor@gmail.com.

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