Sociology theory 1

Sociological Theory

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Part I

Marxian Concepts of Alienation

Spirited Away is a Japanese anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film follows the story of a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro, who is trapped in a magical world filled with spirits and supernatural creatures (Osmond, 2020). In analyzing the film's portrayal of class relationships using themes, ideas, and concepts from the Communist Manifesto, the following four Marxian concepts of alienation can be applied:

Alienation from the product of labor: In the film, Chihiro's parents are transformed into pigs after eating food meant for the spirits. This transformation highlights the exploitation of human labor in the capitalist system, where workers are reduced to mere producers of commodities. The transformation of the parents into pigs symbolizes the dehumanizing effects of the capitalist system, where people become nothing more than consumers.

Alienation from the process of labor: The movie Spirited Away portrays the character of Chihiro who is compelled to work in a bathhouse. In this place, she encounters Yubaba, a capitalist spirit who is selfish and dishonest, and who exploits Chihiro's labor. Chihiro's lack of control over her working conditions—which include being forced to labor for lengthy periods of time and putting up with bad treatment—emphasizes her separation from her employment.

Alienation from other workers: The fact that Chihiro is separated from her parents, who have been turned into pigs, emphasizes her disconnection from the other employees. The transformation of the parents into pigs symbolizes the dehumanization of workers, where people are reduced to mere objects. The film shows that the capitalist system creates a society of isolated individuals, where workers compete against each other instead of working together.

Alienation from human nature: The capitalist system, as depicted in Spirited Away, is shown to alienate individuals from their human nature, which includes creativity, socialization, and self-expression. The capitalist system reduces people to mere commodities, where their worth is determined by their ability to produce and consume. The film shows that the capitalist system robs people of their humanity and leads to the destruction of nature.

Part II

Marx's Theory of History

According to Hegel's dialectical process, history is generated by the conflict and clash of opposing forces, which results in a resolution or synthesis (Maybee, 2016). This process gives rise to new conflicts and contradictions. Marx was greatly impacted by this phenomenon, but he held that the primary force guiding history was the material elements of society, particularly the method of production. According to Marx's theory of history, the mode of production - the way goods and services are created and distributed in society - determines social relations, politics, and culture (Perry, 2021). Marx developed the base and superstructure model to illustrate how the mode of production shapes society. The base of society includes the means of production and the social relationships that exist around them. The superstructure of society is composed of institutions and practices such as law, family, media, and religion.

For example, the structure of the institution of law reflects the mode of production by serving as a tool for the ruling class to maintain their power and control over the means of production. The laws that are created are based on the interests of the ruling class and are enforced to protect their property and suppress the working class. The relational aspect of law reflects the relationship between the ruling class and the working class, where the former is in a position of power and control over the latter. In conclusion, Hegel's dialectical process was significant in Marx's theory of history because it helped him to understand the contradictions and conflicts that arise in society as a result of the material conditions of the mode of production.

Surplus Value

Surplus value is the extra value generated by workers beyond what they are paid by the capitalist class. Marx's formula for capital, M-C-M', describes the process in which money (M) is used to produce goods (C) that will yield more money (M') through the realization of surplus value (Marx, 2020). The value of the produced goods exceeds the wages paid to workers, resulting in surplus value, which is realized as profit when the goods are sold. Marx identifies two types of surplus value: absolute surplus value and relative surplus value.

Absolute surplus value is obtained by lengthening the workday so that employees may produce more in the same amount of time (Marx, 2020). This can be achieved by mandating that employees put in more hours or by giving them more work to do. Relative surplus value, on the other hand, is gained through reducing the cost of labor, which can be accomplished through technological advancements that allow capitalists to produce more items with fewer employees and at a cheaper cost (Marx, 2020). The drive for surplus value is the underlying force behind the undoing of capitalism because it leads to the exploitation of workers, who eventually become conscious of their exploitation and organize to resist it.

A good example of the forces at play in the undoing of capitalism can be seen in the rise of labor unions and socialist movements. These movements are driven by the recognition of the exploitation of workers and the demand for better wages and working conditions. However, as technology continued to advance and overproduction became more prevalent, the contradictions of capitalism continued to mount, leading to further crises and struggles between labor and capital.

References

Marx, K. (2020).  Theories of Surplus Value: Volume 1 (Vol. 20). Pattern Books. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Q8syEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR10&dq=marx+surplus+value&ots=hFvW7TD-7v&sig=OZXLw528NNYKY0X8T18rLZvVih4

Maybee, J. E. (2016). Hegel’s dialectics. https://plato.stanford.edu/ENTRIES/hegel-dialectics/

Osmond, A. (2020).  Spirited away. British Film Institute.

Perry, M. (2021).  Marxism and history. Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-69511-8.pdf