Marxism

Question 1

What is Marxism the opposite of?

Answer 1

Functionalism.

Question 2

What kind of theory is Marxism?

Answer 2

A conflict theory?

Question 3

Do Marxists think functionalism is too positive?

Answer 3

Yes.

Question 4

Who are the Bourgeoise?

Answer 4

Those who control and own the means of production (factories etc.)

Question 5

Who are the proletariat?

Answer 5

Those who own nothing but their labour (working class) which they have to sell to survive.

Question 6

Do Marxists criticise functionalism?

Answer 6

Yes.

Question 7

What do the Bourgeoise control?

Answer 7

The wealth and capitalism.

Question 8

Who do the bourgeoisie exploit?

Answer 8

The working class.

Question 9

Who are the Proletariat controlled and influenced by?

Answer 9

The Bourgeoise

Question 10

Why are the proletariat miserable?

Answer 10

Because they have no control.

Question 11

Is Marxism a structural theory?

Answer 11

Yes.

Question 12

What does Marxism believe?

Answer 12

That the individual is less important than the social structure of society. And that behaviour is shaped by society, not free will. (Capitalism)

Question 13

What are individuals a product of?

Answer 13

Class relationships and inequality conflict theory.

Question 14

What does capitalism create?

Answer 14

False needs.

Question 15

What is the capitalism process?

Answer 15

1. Bourgeoise owns means of production.
2. Workers work there (only have their labour to sell)
3. They make goods with their labour
4. Owner pays worker but not full value of their product
5. Profit goes to owner (surplus value)
6. Therefore workers are exploited

Question 16

What is Alienation?

Answer 16

Where Workers have no control over what they do, so they don’t care about the final product.

Question 17

What are some criticisms Marxists have with functionalism?

Answer 17

• it suggests we already live in our best world, when we don’t.

• it doesn’t explain how/why societies change

• it overlooks the effects of social inequalities

Question 18

What is Surplus Value?

Answer 18

The extra profit owner receives after they pay workers and cover the production costs. Worker is paid lower then what they deserve so the rich stays rich.

Question 19

What does the superstructure do?

Answer 19

It disguises the misery done by the media (disguising exploitation etc.)

Question 20

What is False Consciousness?

Answer 20

Where you believe something is good when it actually is bad.

Question 21

How does false consciousness in the media distract people?

Answer 21

Shows things like ‘celebrity divorces’ which bedazzles the working class making them focus on that rather than the exploitation they face.

Question 22

What is a common issue that the media uses false consciousness to downplay?

Answer 22

Minimum Wage

Question 23

Who does false consciousness in the media make look bad and how?

Answer 23

The proletariat
They do this by saying they have too many children, having benefits commit crime etc. making them blame each other meaning there is no revolution.

Question 24

What groups does false consciousness in the media get the proletariat to blame?

Answer 24

Vulnerable groups, rather than capitalism.

Question 25

What does false consciousness in the media influence?

Answer 25

It influences what is right and wrong (benefits bad, company profit - good)