Write a 300 word or so essay that examines one of the questions listed below. (Again, 300 words is NOT a word “limit,” but just a guideline, something to shoot for when you are writing.)
Regardless of what question you choose to answer, try to show an understanding of BOTH perspectives. Your grade will be based entirely on the understanding you show of our authors. (Think of the topics as vehicles to show just this sort of understanding.)
Also, keep in mind these are short papers. Focus on the assigned material.
Both the videos and the readings can be used as sources.
Here are the topics. Pick one to answer:
1. Analyze some aspect of popular culture (fashion, social media, celebrity adoration, TV, movies, popular music, video games, sports, etc.) from the perspective of the Friedmans (free market) and Marx. Do you think that as long as the exchange is voluntary “everyone wins”? Do you think popular culture is fundamentally exploitative? Do you think the consumers of popular culture are being exploited? Does it support the bourgeoise? Use the language of the Friedmans and Marx and Engels in your answer. (Again, the papers are short so keep the focus on the authors, not in explaining to me the intricate machinations of some little corner of popular culture. Keep it simple and be minimal, here. Also, as noted, try to do justice to both views. And, please, do not feel the need to pick “one side” over the other. The idea is to see both sides in this area. Even so, feel free to show how either side may “fall short” in its understanding or how their perspective may blind them from seeing something [See module 1 images, the cylinder, the blind men and the elephant, etc.].)
2. Look at this material as it applies to YOUR economic situation. Do you believe that you are being exploited or do you think the “invisible hand” better describes it? Look at school (both the expense of it and what you hope to get out of it) and/or whatever job you have. Do you see both exploitation and the invisible hand? Use the language of the Friedmans and Marx and Engels in your answer. (Again, try to do justice to both views, to see, in theory at least, how both sides could be applied here. Yet, again, you are also free to show how a perspective may fall short or be blind to certain things.)
You must support your arguments with the material that was assigned and you must cite it accurately. (Parenthetical reference [in-text citation] is enough. You don’t have to follow any style guide or rules… just make sure your reader [that would be me] can find what you’re pointing to.)
The use of outside sources in these assignments is prohibited. All of the material you use and cite must come from what was assigned in this module. The whole idea of this class is to simply work with the assigned material, to explore and play with these ideas. I’m not looking for “perfection,” just an honest effort. Do the work and trust yourself. (Just make sure your thinking is grounded in the text. The study questions and class discussions are meant to help guide you.) If you use an uncited source and fail to cite it, you will get an “F.” Plagiarism is never acceptable.
*Above are the professor’s notes*
videos:
https://vimeo.com/33308685 (This being so, every word of text from this comes directly from The Communist Manifesto, so you could just cite that.)
