When someone says “Marxism”, I automatically think “badass”, “rebel”, and “hipster”. Those are just the words that pop into my head. Sure, when I was in fifth grade learning about how communism equals bad and capitalism equals good, I thought of Communism/ Marxism as a sac religious kind of lifestyle. How horrible that people in Cuba had to be oppressed by this odd style of government and way of thinking!
Now, I am not entirely sure how the thought of a “cool badass” pops into my head when I start to think about Marxism. I know that I have learned more about the woes of a capitalist society, and how it leaves the working class in the dust. I know that, as being part of that class, I do not totally love the idea that the rich are getting richer at the expense of us regular Joe’s. However, I’m not so completely enraged and I do not wish to move to North Korea.
When reading Chris Craig’s blog about the copy of Communist’s Manifesto being positioned on a table to offset some jeans, I completely knew what he was describing. Every hip store you go into, they are silently trying to get you to rise against the authority. Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Forever 21, and even Target all seem to have these T-Shirts that by buying, suggest that you would love to live in a Marxist community, or even just rebel against whatever is holding you back. I think that this idea of breaking free is definitely aimed more towards women and teenagers. Out clothes make a bigger impression on us. If I were to wear a shirt that said, “I’m So Green”, I would probably really believe that for the day, and so would a bunch of people that saw me wearing it. It’s kind of frightening how a statement in fashion makes us believe more than we should.
Chris Craig hit the nail on the head when he said that I imagine myself to be someone of a “fashion revolutionary” by buying that Che Guevara t-shirt. But I really shouldn’t. I totally agree with this idea of “cultural capital”. When I see people who are wearing the best clothes, that have been bought exclusively from one of these hipster, rebellious stores, I do think of them as having a level of distinction and authority. When I can afford to buy one of those pairs of jeans from the table with the Communist Manifesto on it, I feel better about myself and making a conscious decision to buy these crazy, not your average person jeans.
So, who makes all of these trendy t-shirts? That’s right, the people who are one hundred percent against anything that is not Capitalism. Actually, some kids in Guatemala probably actually made the shirts. But I am just feeding the giant, capitalist machine. I think I’m being crazy and rebelling, but I’m not. The authority, or ruling class has instilled the ideology in me, without me even noticing it. They think that if I can feel rebellious buying a t-shirt linked to Marxism, I’ll be satisfied with all of my rebellious urges. This is scarily true. This ideology is embedded so deep in my mind, it took an English class blog for me to realize it!
In response to Chris Craig’s point about the news and how it really is geared for the upper class moneymakers, not the wage earners, I have an anecdote. My roommate and I decided to watch the original Wall Street movie the other day. At first it was cool, seeing Charlie Sheen having a tough time as a buyer on Wall Street. Then, he went to see Gordon Gekko, and they started talking money, business, and stocks. That was right around the time we lost interest in the movie. Two twenty year olds in college could really care less about buying and trading, and watching this millionaire guy get even richer. We stopped watching, and discussed how irrelevant all of that stuff seemed to us, average wage-makers.
I agree that literature is absolutely full of ideological ideals, whether intentionally or unintentionally placed in the text. How can text really not be? We are all impressed upon by the society, and where we are positioned in the society. If I was a billionaire, or even just higher up in society than most, almost every element of my life and the way I write would probably be different than that of a factory worker who makes $8.00 per hour.
The last book I read was Eat, Pray, Love. While this book is not really a huge social commentary, it did provide the author’s point of view and she did include her own, privileged ideological ideas. Elizabeth Gilbert is a wealthy New Yorker in her thirties, and she has a lot of money to throw around. With this status, she clearly has her own set of rules and sets up the rules expected of someone like herself. In a novel like Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, where social commentary is evident and busting at the seams, it still appears that he is influenced by the social standards and the environment and ideological values instill upon him.
Thinking about how Shakespeare is taught in school was enlightening for me. I’ve taken a class about Shakespeare for almost six years straight. Even at a college level, I would always think of William Shakespeare as a privileged author who wrote privileged text. Even in college courses, we would talk about how he captures “human nature” more than anything. I’ve always known he was somewhat putting ideological ideas into the subtext, but have never really considered that in terms of Marxism. It’s exciting to see the subtext in a whole new way.
I really enjoyed this post- and I honestly couldn't relate to it more. I too remember the middle school lesson on communism and how it meant that people weren't "free." At least not as we're "free" in America. The idea of looking at communism as a potentially positive and intelligent way of life has become a new concept to me over the past few years. Now these ideas are not only common, they're trendy. They're hip. They come with expensive tshirts.
ReplyDeleteBut the problem is just as you said. The people making this Marxist statements through the fashion industry are the ultimate Capitalists and they're seriously profiting from the communist thought. Its interesting to take a step back and really consider the motives behind the sales techniques including leaving a copy of the Communist Manifesto next to the coolest jeans. I personally can't stand the idea of my wardrobe be subconciously driven by any politcal statement. The idea of it makes shopping even more unpleasant and I already have enough trouble picking out new clothes.
-A. Amorello
I’d like to explore one of the points you made in your post regarding the shifting nature of the concept of communism. Marxism used to be against the norm. In your post you mention that to be communist was sac religious and rebellious. Communism created “cool badasses” out of its members. This is evidently the way of the past, as stores like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie proudly display such previously unwelcome pieces of propaganda as The Communist Manifesto. It seems as though, by choosing to encourage ‘the youth of America’ to purchase something once thought of as rebellious, the companies in charge of selling these ‘rebellious’ items are encouraging acts of individuality and dissension among a youthful demographic.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this concept is similar to what happened with the n-word (bear with me on this one). After years of the n-word being used primarily as an ethnic slur, those who were previously disempowered by the word chose to take its power away by using it themselves. This seems to be exactly what has happened with what was previously considered rebellious, such as communism or swearing in public (as Urban Outfitters also sells “Sh*t My Dad Says,” “1001 Facts That Will Scare The Sh*t Out Of You,” and “Big Ass Book of Crafts”). Eventually the lines dividing what is nostalgic, rebellious, practical, or boring are going to be blurred beyond the point of distinction. At that point, people are going to have to (God forbid) think for themselves regarding what they actually want out of their average neo-yuppie store.
I feel that exact opposite of Alison. I cannot relate at all to your post. The idea that Marxism instantly makes you think of ‘bad ass’ is no less of a hegemonic system then the one that says Capitalism = freedom.
ReplyDeleteHow do we differentiate what is correct? Why is it that we view Capitalism as ‘that which must be dispatched’. Is there any possibility that it is because it’s all we know. As human well being evolved so did economies into Capitalism. I’m not saying that it is correct or not, just that it is all we know. And we, as youth, love to revolt against what we know. I mean, Cubans revolt against their government don’t they?
The manifesto in a jeans store is interesting due to the reality that the Manifesto is advising against the buying of something which puts the workers down.
Now how would we feel if we found Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ in a locally owned, handmade jean shop in Cuba? Would a young 20 year old student/artist think it as witty and revolutionary? Would their rebellious urges against be satiated by purchasing a shirt with Bill Gates face on it?
In a society where Marxism has oppressed the masses does Capitalism look a better system?