7/25/2019 Neo-Marxism - Power Relations (1)

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THE FRANKFURT SCHOOL/ NEO-MARXISM

Marxism in a Nutshell

- developed in 19th c by Marx and Engels from their interest in the economic conditions of

Europe during industrialization.

- the class systemgoverns unequal relations: the dominantrulingcapitalist class! the middle

class! and the "or#ing class. $or#ing and middle class "or# under "age- labour conditions to

produce goodsservices that benefit the capitalistruling class.

%o sum up! Marxism is a theory arguing that the hierarchical class system is at the root

of all social problems. &t must be ended by resistance! or a revolution of the proletariat 'Marx

and Engels(.

Ne-Marxism/ The !Fran"#urt S$hl%

%he )*ran#furt +chool, is a school of )critical theory, stemming from basic erman

contributions. &t brings the sociological turn adding to the traditional triad of ancient reece

'the good! the true! the beautiful ) , #alo#agathon( the )concrete, of

everyday life

/0&E2+34+ 532%&6/432+

the 70E the M308

invariant variants

the egelian connection: the spirit-in-history topos! the ;eitgeist vs. postmodern

a"areness of relativism! historicity! embeddedness > ?ohns op#ins /niversity

6onference on the )human sciences,: @erridaAs first overt act of destabilising structuralism

rooted in the system of correspondences 'isomorphic model( bet"een the )"orld up there,

and the )"orld do"n here,. +o! hiatus bet"een the t"o.

%he &nstitute for +ocial 2esearch opens at *ran#furt am Main in 19BC. &t started out as

a post-$$& 'formed in 19BD(! Marxist-based reaction to the crises of "ar in Europe. *rom

19D1! the school "as under Max or#heimer! "ith a focus on philosophy! culture! and themedia 'this became the main focus for European intellectuals from the 19Ds to 19Cs(.