In the reading, Alienated Labor, Karl Marx talks about some really hot topics centered around labor, slavery, and its impact on mankind. Marx states that Alienated Labor separates us in four ways; Nature from man, man from itself, man from his product, and the spiritual from the body. In the movie, Hunger Games, The people in the different districts were separated in more ways then one; man from itself and man from nature. Marx would call those people "physcial subjects" and not employees. When working in the labor force , you being given in return wages.
The thing that really puts this into play is the concept of capitalism and how it drives us to produce and create under certain circumstances that removes the "humane" part of working and labor and places it along the lines of slavery. I see this everyday going into the Distribution Industry, working at UPS. However I can say that I am happy that it is a unionized company. The union is what really helps stop the company from going overboard from becoming new age slave masters. Marx brings up the point that, "the terminus of this slavery is that he can only maintain him self as a physical subject so far as he is a worker, and only as a physical subject is he a worker.". Granted when you have a workforce that has to work to provide for a family of three to five, you will do what you have to do to make sure that your needs are taken care of for your family.
In the movie the Hunger Games, two people were chosen to compete and put their skills to the test to represent their districts and also stay alive. The games removed them from their usual environment and placed them in a controlled area where they must pick each other off in the name of your District. While in the games Marx would probably say that you aren't separated from nature but you are alienating the man from its product and itself(fellow mankind) in a drastic way. Expressed in the Hunger Games, after someone wins and arises to the top at the end of the Hunger Games, the survivors are "celebrated" but nothing can be really given in exchange for a person being alienated from themselves and as well as their skill to survive or battle their way to the winning seat.
The number of wages, parades, or merits can't come to the cost of giving up your humanity to become a unit of work. Marx brought up, "A direct consequence of man's alienation from the product of his work, from his life activity, and from his species-existence, is the alienation of man from man. When man confronts himself he confronts other men. What holds true of man'r relationship to his work, to his product of his work, and to himself, also holds true man's relationship to other men, to their labor, and the object of their labor". The Hunger Games really showed how playing (or fighting) to come out on top of the economic world, ahead of time, or in the Hunger Games we must keep in mind that we aren't separating basic need for the worker but to really empower the worker to bring fourth their talents and products to make us all better and not just a few to prosper forever.
Derrick,
ReplyDeleteI find your post enlightening because of the way you applied Marx's "alienated labor" theory to your everyday life and in comparison to the movie the Hunger Games. I think we are enduring a moment in time where we are accustomed to competing. The characters in the Hunger Games are used to seeing others fight to the death to survive, in order to get out of their situation. I also think you hit the spot when you talked about how corporations can take advantage of the worker and how you are fortunate to have a union to support you. However, I think it should not be like this. Why is it okay for a corporation to increase their profits on the expense of human capital? Are humans not behind the corporations? Are workers not "human" enough to be treated as such? Like the Hunger Games, we are accustomed to being viewed and viewing others as objects. However, I think the more disturbing part is that we know this is going on and we decide to continue with this oppression. This is something we do not have to entirely endure, humans have revolted before and can do so once again.
I had to read this a few times to really understand it, but I really like the point you made about the games separating man from their own spiritual self. I mean, the means that they had to go through to win, were gruesome and I know for me at least, I would have to separate myself from my actions to follow through with it. I do, however, also want to point out how the hunger games excellently demonstrated Marx's point of alienation from others. How it illustrates, albeit in a more direct way, how capitalism makes us compete with one another, and how there are certain advantages given to others. I mean, for one, the games are divided be social class, and we see how the rich are trained and prepared to prosper in these arenas. Those from district one have had the luxury to train and educate themselves, both physically and mentally, with all the weapons and conditions they meet. Similar to us college students, we've been raised in this competition and forget that others are not quite as privileged, but also that there are always others that are more privileged. However, just like in the games, because Peeta and Katniss were busy being laborers and trying to make ends meet to provide for their families, they were at a larger disadvantage going into that arena. However, as much as everyone likes to cheer for the underdog, we never want to BE the underdogs, right? And there's a reason why. It's because as Marx puts it, we are, at this point, competitive by nature. And because of this, we are always quick to do what helps us and not another. I know that we may very well sometimes do the right thing and not judge others, but I know for a fact, being a student is a lot like being a laborer and there HAVE been times that instead of helping friends study for tests, I would study alone to get a higher score for myself. its that same idea applied to everyday life. I mean, sure, right now we aren't physically fighting each other and our wealth isn't prominently displayed like the hunger games, but its impossible to miss the almost obvious signs (name brand clothing, car, jewelry, hair, mods, etc.) I think that the hunger games illustrates Marx's points to an exaggerated level, that's for sure.
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