Marx Forum: The History of Alienation
Matthew Warner
Published by: Psytext
Capitalism is social constraint that is implemented by multiple parties to provide insight towards a more profitable society. It is based on population control and or designed social maintenance procedures; it is implemented by the acting government and private sectors. This is because these are the groups who are solely responsible for social control measures. One example would be companies like Google and Facebook that provide free services while generating massive amounts of profit. These types of companies have existed since business was initially developed. This article will discuss “Marx's Forum” and his ideology towards social development. Marx was a philosopher who believed the alienation of other people is attached to forms of capitalism. It practices disconnection of employees to their work efforts, each other and or any finished product or any finished works that they are responsible for. It hones in on the negative parts of employment as a method of controlling the populace. This idea is attached to our forms of symbolism. Designers and digital artists have to understand the points attached to profitability to maintain that instance. This is not always in this best interest, as many will adhere to the constraints of their employer, stifling their artistic integrity.
Abstract
Who is attracted to what and why? Research has shown that whatever is attached to social stigmata and financial status, is an important aspect of social manipulation and population control. These are in direct relation to how one perceives the world and what draws their attention. This article will explain Marx's form in relation to socioeconomic drive.
Marx's Forum
One of the ideas behind capitalism and its behavioral traits, stems from the dissociation of social needs and wants. It places our basic needs and desires into a commodity.
-“Goods and objects must be necessarily produced and maintained, (even though violent and or destructive means) to maintain the social hierarchy.” (Jean 1981, Chapter 1 pg. 30 paragraph 2)
Capitalist Environment
Large industries with “Pull” will be able to manipulate and steer the population in the direction they want them to. The alienation aspect is associated with the steps that are required for each person to be placed into the category deemed fit by those who are ruling capitalist leaders. This can also mean combining ideas and feeding them to groups that are attached to those themes. In forms of advertising and or designing products, services and objects, they are tailored to fit the format from the most strategic standpoint possible. “The Tactic of the Pot and the Saucer”. This is one of the themes Jeam itemized in the publication. It defines the mentality of the capitalists mindset, comparing the theme to a pot with a saucer underneath. It states that capitalists need not only to own, but to underline and protect their property. This creates a need for more than what is normally required for sustainable living. (Jean 1981, Chapter 1 pg. 42 paragraph 2) The author mentions how one not only needs to possess, but to demonstrate how well one possesses their property. The logic behind consumption is fairly simple. In order for one to have more, someone else must have much less. This does not mean that they are not required to work just as hard or harder. This methodology can be annotated to how capitalists design and create ideas for the majority of society, or specific groups to embark on. An example of this may be a basic military ad campaign. They suggest offering the public a strong positive career option. This is usually highlighted in videos of exciting activities and adventures. The majority of military candidates would be young active adults. Along with heroic symbolism, the ads drive home a specific idea. The motions and design schemes and SPECIALLY geared to their target audience. Regardless of the reality of military service, the way the powers at hand conduct recruitment are in direct correlation to capitalistic ideas.
Marx's Form: Capitalization vs. Alienation
German intellectual Karl Marx (1818–1883) identified and described four types of social alienation that afflict the worker under capitalist rule. He discusses the progression of human needs to or “species “species essence ” to the treatment of the labor force. One of the forms of alienation is that humans at work are required to maintain focus on the task at hand. This forces them to remove social aspects of working and takes away anything that may bolster the employee to gain more than expected from a career. This is directly attached to social layering. The employee must be kept as exactly that, a functioning cog that generates profit for those in power. The next form of alienation Marx mentions is,the dissociation and or separation of a worker from the end product. This takes away any sense of accomplishment, leaving the employee constantly striving to feel a basic human sense of satisfaction. This may be delegated into small portions to keep the worker somewhat happy, to maintain profits. The next method used by capitalists noted by Marx is the alienation of the worker from production. Marx notes that this is done in two ways. The first one is by providing miniscule tasks that disallow feelings of accomplishment, therefore diminishing self worth. This forces the worker into a dull machine-like state. The second is, by not allowing workers a hand in the final product. This is another method used to take personal pride and idealism away from employees.
The next alienation tool Marx notes is, the “removal of species essence”. This means that employers may not provide or allow specific things that humans need to be completely happy and functioning. This forces them to keep focused on the task at hand, striving to complete the task. Sometimes leaders may push when necessary, placing specific workers in specific places. The final nail in the employees proverbial coffin Marx itemized, is the disconnection of workers from each other. In some cases, this is not completely utilized, by delegating. Groups of staff members are allowed to participate in team building programs that are designed by the employers. Workers may also be penalized for acting on natural instances, such as dating coworkers.
“In my production I would have objectified my individuality, its specific character, and, therefore, enjoyed not only an individual manifestation of my life during the activity, but also, when looking at the object, I would have the individual pleasure of knowing my personality to be objective, visible to the senses, and, hence, a power beyond all doubt.” (Marx, 1844 chapter 12)
Language and Ideology: In this section, I wish to contrast the Marxist notion of ideology to the neo-Marxist one and show how each approach corresponds to an order of simulacra in Baudrillard (the modern and postmodern orders, respectively). While Marx understood ideology as a false consciousness, as a tool of the upper class to conceal their inner workings to the masses, Althusser has a Lacanian understanding of ideology as a perceptual mediator between subjects and the world. In the postmodern age, then, there is no outside of ideology because everything is constructed by simulacra (Felluga, 28)
Conclusion
Social layering and capitalism are both similar control measures. In some cases, understanding these and practicing them is taught and passed down to other generations. This is a way to ensure that the system remains functioning in their favor. Though there may be things we notice in our employment, it is interesting to see how the ideals you can see and feel are practiced in a tangible fashion. In some ways this can be a positive part of life, providing tasks and orientation that does not require large sources of income or intellect, but may have negative social connotations. In regards to the design industry, this can be labeled as a double edged sword. On one hand, you have those with high levels of intellectual talent they can use to bolster creative careers. On the other hand, companies that have high populations may isolate members of the public with artistic talent and implement the same catalyst control measures of any other industry. As designing is an art related career, you may end up working with the needs and wants of your clients, setting aside artistic integrity.