COMM 2P20 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Billy Bragg, High Culture, Chantal Mouffe

• School: Brock University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMM 2P20
• Professor: Baxter Moore

Document Summary

Review of culture & civilization approach from last week. Following the thought of karl marx (1818-1883) and frederick (friedrich) engels (1820-1895): Culture is part of the superstructure of society. Superstructure, and hence culture, is powerfully influenced by the base" the forces and relations of production (the economic system and the class structure) Superstructure (including culture) both expresses and legitimizes the base that is, culture, including popular culture, is largely determined by the capitalist mode of production. Class: determined largely, but not exclusively, by one"s relationship to the means of production. Two principal, antagonistic, classes under capitalism: bourgeoisie (capitalists) own or control the means of production, proletariat (workers) sell their labour to capitalists, other classes (e. g. , peasantry) are residual/temporary. Commodification: transformation of use value into exchange value (something that is bought and sold) The state (government +) rules on behalf, or at the behest, of the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) William morris (english textile designer, artist, poet, revolutionary socialist, 1834-1896)