S. Delany
Fall 1978
"It is often said and written that the main point in Marx's teachings is the class struggle; but this is not true. And from this untruth very often springs the opportunist distortion of Marxism, its falsification in such a way as to make it acceptable to the bourgeoisie... Only he is a Marxist who extends the recognition of the class struggle to the recognition of the dictatorship of the proletariat. This is what constitutes the most profound difference between the Marxist and the ordinary petty bourgeois. This is the touchstone on which the real understanding and recognition of Marxism is to be tested." -- Lenin, State and Revolution
From the perspective of revolutionary socalism, G.S. 300 will investigate various aspects of the arts, arts criticism, and culture. Those who have had no previous exposure to Marxist writing should see Professor Delany before enrolling in the course. Work of the course will include consistent participation in seminar discussions, one or two oral presentations or short papers, and a final exam.
60 credit hours.
G.V. Plekhanov, Art and social life
Karl Marx, Wage-labour and capital
Friedrich Engels, Socialism: Utopian and scientific
Vladimir Ilich Lenin, On literature and art
Vladimir Ilich Lenin, Karl Marx
Paul N. Siegel, ed., Leon Trotsky on literature and art
Women and revolution #11, 13
SYL pamphlet, "The Stalin School of Falsification revisited"
Mao Tse Tung, On literature and art
Merle Goldman, Literary dissent in communist China