Commodity

Michel Taussing in The Devil and Commodity Fetishism views the peasant’s opposition in South America against the market production as the confrontation between use-value and exchange value production systems. Peasants in the rural areas of Bolivia and Colombia believe that becoming a labor for production is same as making the deal with the devil, “the contract that is said to have baneful consequences for capital and human life”: the land might become barren and the person entering the contract…

Utopian futures, present the Marxist ideas of commodity fetishism, alienation and modernity as it relates to the human need for happiness, security and spirituality and/or religiosity. The futuristic worlds that both authors set up in their short stories deal with the ramifications of modernity in societies; in both worlds the threat against individual and collective life of humans is what drives them into developing values that keep such threats at bay. Commodity Fetishism is an inherent…

explained in chapter one what a commodity was and the difference between exchange value and use value. A commodity is used to in order exchange for another commodity, therefore keeping trade and the labor force alive. As Marx would say “A means to an end”. Marx says “commodities must be realized as values before they can be realized as use values” (179) which further supports his point. Then they split off into either use value or exchange value which separate the commodities. One must realize…

In regards to commodity audiences, an issue that tends to be brought up is whether or not this audience is a necessity for mass media or a hindrance to society. While it may be argued that the advertising to this audience funds the media that we watch; it is also argued that this type of advertising demographic can largely affect certain stereotypes that exist in culture today. Television is something that is not necessarily bought. In order for television shows to continue production…

Although the mere mention of the commodity hemp brings about many biases and opinions over the matter, it is without question many have not looked at the commodity in an academic standing with objective intentions. With hemp crucial involvement the three different area, them being early usage such as rope, paper and clothing, to medical usage with its oils, and effects on mans, and as intoxicate usage with its ritual use in Indian culture. We see how the commodity hemp’s connections throughout…

Film, as explained by Giroux is more than just an entertainment commodity stated how "[film] offers up subject positions, mobilizes desires, influences us unconsciously, and helps to construct the landscape of American culture." (2002: 585). Horror films are noted by Derry (1987) as well as King (2004) as being particularly…

In order to first understand the basis of capitalism and whether it is doomed or not one must first understand the basis of Karl Marx. Karl Marx was a German sociologist born in the 1800 's. Marx during his time studied the rise of capitalism that spread throughout western Europe years after the Industrial Revolution. During this period there were rapid economic and social changes occurring. With expansion of technology , transportation and communication, this allowed for commercial market goods…

Hochschild defines “the commodity frontier” as “ it looks out on one side to the marketplace and on the other side of the family. On the market side, it is a frontier for companies as they expand the number of market riches for good and services that in yesteryear, formed part of unpaid “family life. On the other side, it is a frontier for families that feel the need or desire to consume such goods and services”(Hochschild,35-36). Overall, what I take away from the concept of the commodity…

division of labor, everyone had something of their own making to exchange; so, they would carry around their commodity. However, this proved to be flawed logic, as some commodities were highly impractical to carry around on one’s person every day. Thus came the need for a portable bartering chip. It seemed that universally, men “[gave] the preference, for [exchange], to metals above every other commodity” (Smith, 38). Thus, metals such as gold and silver began to be used in exchange. They both…

Emotional relationships developed with the material is reflected on other individuals in their efforts of communication. Social relationships were then established to be based on material wealth, in the act of conspicuous consumption followed by commodity fetishism. Materialist behaviour stratified…