Capitalism: A Horror Story: Gothic Marxism and the Dark Side of the Radical Imagination with Jon Greenaway
Jul 29, 2024
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Jon Greenaway, an author exploring capitalism through horror, dives into the chilling intersections of Gothic Marxism and societal critique. He discusses the revolutionary potential in horror narratives, referencing classics like 'Dracula' to highlight capitalist anxieties. Greenaway also examines the haunting metaphor of the house in trauma, body horror in post-COVID cinema, and the dual role of Satan as a revolutionary figure. The conversation intertwines horror with utopian visions, revealing deeper societal truths through a macabre lens.
The podcast explores the horror of capitalism as a systemic issue, reflecting societal neglect and individual despair within degraded conditions.
It distinguishes between Gothic narratives and Marxist analyses, highlighting how both frameworks uncover revolutionary potentials obscured by mainstream optimism.
Emerging genres like trans horror provide narratives that challenge societal monstrosities, promoting resilience and understanding amidst struggles against systemic oppression.
Deep dives
The Horror of Capitalism
The discussion emphasizes the inherent horror of capitalism as a systemic issue that forces individuals to live in despair, often outside or in degraded conditions. The song referenced critiques societal abandonment, questioning why people must endure such harsh realities of life without support. This horror manifests not only in personal suffering but also in broader societal neglect, linking the emotional weight to the capitalist structure. The conversation uses the lens of Gothic Marxism to analyze cultural forms reflecting these grotesque realities and urges a critique of the status quo.
Gothic vs. Marxist Narratives
The podcast articulates the distinction between Gothic narratives and Marxist analyses, positioning them as dual frameworks for understanding horror in culture. Gothic Marxism specifically seeks to uncover utopian traces within degraded cultural expressions, revealing revolutionary potentials obscured by mainstream optimism. It argues that horror can serve as a backdrop for historical rupture, showing how socio-political past traumas can still influence contemporary realities. By revisiting works like 'Dracula,' the discussion highlights how such narratives can elucidate capitalist exploitation beyond surface interpretations.
The Role of Monstrosity
The exploration of monstrosity in horror illustrates how societal fears often manifest in culturally constructed figures, serving both as warnings and reflections of underlying anxieties. These monsters can catalyze significant revelations regarding the socio-political landscape, revealing the fragility of established norms. The podcast posits that the understanding of monstrosity requires a nuanced approach that considers both personal and collective fears surrounding identity and existence. This perspective urges listeners to rethink the implications of labeling individuals as 'monstrous' and recognize the conditions that produce such categories.
Body Horror in Contemporary Cinema
The resurgence of body horror post-COVID is examined as a response to societal fragility, where pandemic experiences heightened awareness of vulnerability and bodily autonomy. Films like 'Crimes of the Future' explore how contemporary horror reflects the ways capitalism commodifies the human body, illustrating the inherent tension of physical and psychological domination. Body horror becomes a lens through which to analyze the impacts of social disconnection and fear of the unknown in a capitalist society. This genre thus acts as a commentary on the violence inflicted upon bodies by a system designed for control and exploitation.
Trans Horror and Resistance
The podcast discusses the emerging genre of trans horror, which provides a narrative space for exploring the struggles against societal monstrosities and systemic oppression. Works by authors like Gretchen Felker-Martin portray the complexities of identity and the fight against fascism, emphasizing love and solidarity as pivotal themes. This new wave of horror confronts the monolithic narratives surrounding gender and identity, instead cherishing the beauty of resilience within marginalized communities. The dialogue encourages a reevaluation of horror not just as a source of fear but as a catalyst for empowerment and understanding in the face of societal violence.
Buy Jon Greenaway's book: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/capitalism-a-horror-story-gothic-marxism-and-the-dark-side-of-the-radical-imagination/
Jon's podcast: https://pod.link/1445594437
What does it mean to see horror in capitalism? What can horror tell us about the state and nature of capitalism?
Blending film criticism, cultural theory, and philosophy, Capitalism: A Horror Story examines literature, film, and philosophy, from Frankenstein to contemporary cinema, delving into the socio-political function of the monster, the haunted nature of the digital world, and the inescapable horror of contemporary capitalist politics.
Revitalizing the tradition of Romantic anticapitalism and offering a “dark way of being red”, Capitalism: A Horror Story argues for a Gothic Marxism, showing how we can find revolutionary hope in horror- a site of monstrous becoming that opens the door to a Utopian future.
