Marxism and Culture

Abstract

Marxism (as a theoretical approach) has, from the outset, been concerned to develop a materialist account of the interrelations between the cultural dimension of social existence and other aspects and conditions of human practice. Debate in this particular area has centred around the manner in which these relations are portrayed. Thus, in the Marxist paradigm, questions arise as to whether the cultural features of social life should be interpreted as a determined superstructure or, often in the conviction that Marxism itself will be enriched, are better represented as themselves having a determining effect upon the nature and course of social development.