70 likes | 446 Views
AS Sociology Introduction to Marxist Perspective. What is Marxism in Sociology? Supermarket Shopping: An Analogy with Marxist Theory Discussion with Diagram : Shopping/Marxism Coffee Break Q and A Weaknesses of Marxism: Design a poster/ or design a pp presentation to present in class
E N D
AS SociologyIntroduction to Marxist Perspective • What is Marxism in Sociology? • Supermarket Shopping: An Analogy with Marxist Theory • Discussion with Diagram : Shopping/Marxism • Coffee Break • Q and A Weaknesses of Marxism: Design a poster/ or design a pp presentation to present in class • Identify and Outline Key Marxist ‘terms’ Activity • worksheet on Marxism
Marxist Perspective • Founding father: Karl Marx (1818 -1883) • Society is about class conflict. Conflict between 2 social groups: Bourgeoises (ruling class) and Proletariat (working class). Relationship to the means of production (land, factories) that determines social class. • Ruling Class-Own the means of production. Working class own nothing but their labour power. • Each class will pursue it’s own interests. Fundamentally, class interests are in conflict* • Ruling Class more powerful as they have more money to control and keep what they hold
Social change • Class Conflict is the dynamic that changes history. • In Capitalist Society: the bourgeoises are the dominant class. They will use very sophisticated means to persuade, soothe and manipulate the working class population into believing they are not being exploited and to stop them challenging the ruling class. • Marx argued that eventually the working class would realise their exploitation as a social class and overthrow the ruling class in a revolution. (Class conciousness). • They would then create an equal society –Communism
Criticisms • Marx’s theory of social change has been widely criticised. Over 100 years after his work, capitalism continues. • Marx never recognised the power or growth of a middle class. A middle class has developed in all developed countries that Max Weber recognised would grow and possibly stop social change (communism). • Commujist ‘experiments’ have failed. –Soviet Union.
VideoSupermarket Analogy for Marxism • Watch the following video about how US Supermarkets use sophisticated techniques to make people spend more money without realising it! • Consider as you watch this film what similarities there are with the Marxist idea of the ruling class manipulating the working class to stop them realising their exploitation. (False Class Conciousness) • 'Supermarkets Inc'- US Film
Marxist Terms Activity • Find out what the following terms mean? (Use a Sociology dictionary or text books) • Ideology • Embourgoisement • Class Conciousness • False Class Conciousness • Means of Production • Proletariat • Bourgeoises • Communism • Class Conflict • Neo Marxist • Imperialism