Open AccessKarl Marx & Communication @ 200: Towards a Marxian Theory of Communication
Author(s) -
Christian Fuchs
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
triplec
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.564
H-Index - 21
ISSN - 1726-670X
DOI - 10.31269/triplec.v16i2.987
Subject(s) - ideology , capitalism , historical materialism , dialectical materialism , dialectic , epistemology , sociology , critical theory , communication theory , materialism , fetishism , models of communication , neoclassical economics , social science , marxist philosophy , philosophy , economics , law , political science , communication , politics , anthropology
This contribution takes Marx’s bicentenary as occasion for reflecting on foundations of a Marxian theory of communication. It aims to show that Marx provides a consistent account as foundation for a critical, dialectical theory of communication. The article first discusses the relationship of communication and materialism in order to ground a communicative materialism that avoids the dualist assumption that communication is a superstructure erected on a material base. Second, the paper provides an overview of how Marx’s approach helps us to understand the role of the means of communication and communicative labour in capitalism. Third, it conceives of ideology as a form of fetishised communication and fetishism as ideological communication. Given that communicative capitalism is a significant dimension of contemporary society, it is about time to develop a Marxian theory of communication.