Karl Marx's Manifesto

# 2 Reading

Communist Manifesto 1848

Karl Marx

Marx’s extensive and detailed theory of his vision to create a new society of equals through radical violent revolution.

Marx is very strait forward; over-throw the standing from of government, free the proletariat, eliminate the old class system, confiscate all land, all businesses, all production plants eliminate all elites.

Wipe the slate clean.

He is clear in his writing that all class differences must be eliminated by violent revolution, not by law or decree.

Marx’s last view of history is distorted, he has built his version to fit his end game, destroying the middle class businessman and manufacturing plants who at that time were more than harsh to the working class and supported by the Government and the elite.

This theory states that when the proletariat take power and all people are equal there will be no more friction between classes for there will be only one class. Sure.

The theory goes like this Communism is the formation of the people into a single class with the proletariat ruling.

Sounds simple.

This of course sounds all well and good, as a theory.

I for one question his interpretation and research of history; it is obviously emotionally impacted by his experiences. His views of the middle class and ruling class

Are filled with hate and loathing.

His Manifesto is as much or more about revenge on an entire class than building a new world. Be careful what you wish for.

I think it is interesting one of the most important points left out was mans nature, something Plato and Aristotle understood but Marx did not.

Man wants to be free, to better himself, to have power.

He did not calculate into his Manifesto instincts for individuality at all levels.

Marx seemed to forget that human factor, to think they would all hold hands and sing we are one was not going to happen without oppressive power to make men do so.

I believe he past over reading the end result of the French revolution, not exactly like his plan but close , kill off the elites and rein in the middle class , how did that work out.

Marx’s did see value in art and its ability to see under the social causes of injustice, class, cruel labor practices

Art in his view was a powerful influence on the people, he recommended it be used to support the state. Propaganda yes.

Marx did discuses the removal of class culture but did not mean the disappearance of all culture.

Marx offered up Social Constructivism to influence the understanding of art, he was familiar with Formalism (classless non representational) in Russian and German.

The artists in communist countries spent decades producing the product of “Peoples Victory Posters”

Obviously his thinking still pops up time to time..

Marx’s grand plan as played out in the Soviet Union (RIP)but it was hijacked by the Bolsheviks, followed by a civil war and then 70 years of isolation, 30 to 40 million dead, brutal repression, Gulags all provide by a benevolent dictatorship that was to have saved the world.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Drew