Superstructure’s Revenge: Marxism and Culture

Abstract

Culture has made a remarkable move in the story of marxism from dependent, determined and subordinate part of the ‘superstructure’ of society (the economy being the ‘base’) to centre-stage in the new marxist cultural studies and, even more, in forms of marxism influenced by postmodernism. This chapter begins with Karl Marx’s own engagement with culture and ideology, emphasizing the ambiguous legacy it left. It then turns to the post-Russian Revolution attempt by marxist cultural theorists to create a socialist culture, including the Soviet Proletkult movement. Any ambiguity in the marxist discourse is dissipated as culture is recruited to fight the class struggle. Then Antonio Gramsci, from his jail cell in Mussolini’s Italy, began to break away from marxist determinism in regard to culture. The culturalist turn in marxism had begun, and its effects are still being felt today. Finally, this chapter turns to postmodernism and poststructuralism, which finally broke culture away from the orthodox marxist grip. The ‘superstructure’ had its revenge, but where does this leave a critical study of culture in society today?