12-08-02
Sociology in the Cinema
Truths in the Eye of the Camera
Applied Marxist Ideology in the Political Film
In this paper I will take a look at some of Marxist and NeoMarxist ideologies and apply them to political films. The purpose is simply to take the already existing connection of social reality and it�s reflections in the cinema and analyze the film with forms of sociological theory. Perhaps we can will be able to see more clearly the issues that elude the population as a whole and perhaps even cause some issues to come to light. When Marx writes or speaks of inequality in social formations and structures he usually discusses it in terms of economic status. In contemporary sociological theory power is the key issue that makes a minority group and keeps alive the constant class struggle. It is safe to assume that we can make a correlation between the struggle for power and the struggle for economic stability and dominance. If we can successfully make this correlation then we can translate Marxist ideologies into terms that can be used to define functions and problems with political powers.
Marx, and neo Marxist ideologies love to take a look at the meaning of products and process of the creation of them. If we briefly take a look at the genre of these films, we can also take a look at the significant meaning of these films, and the meanings or morals that the audience is to take from these films.
The Theories:
�economic structure of society-the real foundation, on which raise legal and political superstructures and to which correspond definite forms of social consciousness.� (Marx).
Karl Marx is right in this economic statement. All of the people in political power has a strong standing in the world of economics. With the ability to control economics one can utilize there finances to in essence buy friends, or at least rent them in times of political need.
�Those who are exploited may attempt to reduce or eliminate their exploitation, while the exploiters are expected to resist these efforts, or even to intensify them. The Existence of classes thus implies class struggle.� (Greenburg)
This statement is a very strong on indeed. The people who are being oppressed in there rights of anything will want to retaliate, and will do so at most any cost. The people who hold the power will fight to remain in power at all costs.
�The mode of production in material life determines the general character of the social, political and spiritual processes of life.� (Marx).
Class structure is held strong by terms of need. As long as there is the need for jobs there will always be bad jobs for workers to take. These jobs need to be done, but the symbolic meaning of that job may not be of the most impressive or proudest nature and the needs of these jobs are determined by a situation that the employer deems necessary. In the case of political figures the situations that they deem necessary for there time may decide the fate of everyone in there selected society. Matters of food preparation, transportation, and even speeches that the political power wielders give are prepared for them. In many ways we can then look at the political leaders as a product in themselves that is to be sold to the voting population.
-Social Reproduction- �allows us to predict the structural evolution of a social formation by a specification of the structure of conditions� It also involves the systematic dismantling and destruction piece by piece of the old societal forms.� (Lee)
I personally believe that Lee is making a very strong point and is in fact turning the art of sociology into almost an exact science. If we as social scientists take a look at forms of oppression and apply them to everyday scenarios we will start to see patterns emerging. Women�s rights, homosexual rights, Asian American rights, native American issues of sovereignty, the list goes on and on. If we can take closer looks at the power struggles between oppressor and oppressed patterns start to arise. If enough people become unhappy they will follow there natural human instincts to make change to there present situation for the better of them and those around them. Not all of the results are good by any means, but they are relevant and can be used to tell the future of that movement.
�Forms of social life and of meaning constantly reproducing themselves through the acts of people. Further, Large-scale social change, as we shall see, always manifests itself initially as a crisis in social reproduction.� (Lee)
Social reproduction is in essence a circular pattern that each society revolves around. History as it is said repeats itself. While we see many things change in society the basic issues, food, shelter, companionship stay the same. Now if we compare the modern day issues with those of centuries ago we will notice that the conflicts of the needs have stayed the same, but the scenarios that we fight for them and how we fight has changed. Now we take a look at the realm of wants. Freedom, equal rights, honest livings, power, exe, are all things that most every person wants. When the issue becomes a major problem when the reproduction is being formed, the situation will resolve one way or another in order to cause a major long lasting change. What many should take a closer look at is in how these social movements manifest themselves, and in what way do the actions of the movements help or inhibit the freedoms and rights of the people making the social change.
�the many individual wills active in history for the most part produce results quite other than those intended - often quite the opposite; there motives, therefore, in relation to the total result are likewise of only secondary importance�what driving forces in turn stand behind these motives?� (Engels)
One of the most interesting factors about human existence is that while in an organized society, there are many chaotic results to every action. The causes of many of these events are produced by individuals who either have no idea about what the reaction to there actions or do not perceive of the correct results of there actions. Rosa Parks for example was simply tired and didn�t want to move to the back of the buss for the simple reason that her feet where tired. The result of such an action was the civil rights movement, earning in many ways equal rights for African Americans. Engels supports this by continuing �set in motion great masses, whole peoples and again while classes of the people; and which create a lasting action resulting in a great transformation.� If we take this idea and apply it to the film industry we will notice an unfortunate pattern.