Cultural Marxism

As of late I have heard a lot of right-wingers use the term Cultural Marxism. I have never actually heard of the term before. What is Cultural Marxism and would you describe yourself as a Cultural Marxist?

Being that "cultural Marxism" is a myth concocted by the reactionary right in order to defame Marxism, it would be rather silly for communists to actually identify with the label. (I recommend reading the link provided if you're interested in learning how the proponents of the myth define it.)

Cultural Marxism is associated with a group known as the Frankfurt School, a left-wing think tank that came up with what is known as Critical Theory. Essentially, Critical Theory teaches that truth and morality are relative and that institutions within western society are built on power relationships, that people’s status and fortune in life is determined by class, race, gender, nothing new really. However, the Frankfurt School became frustrated at the persistent lack of interest by the working class in revolt. The Frankfurt School believed that true Socialism could not happen until they were freed from Western culture and Western society had been destroyed. With the working class no longer interested in left-wing ideology, who could substitute for the working class as the agent of revolution? The Frankfurt School's answer was marginalized groups who they believed were threats to Western culture, such as blacks, immigrants, feminists, LGBT people etc.

I have got to say, I do not believe Cultural Marxism to be a "myth", any visit to a college campus, particularly a Social Science class will have you thinking differently. Many elements of Critical Theory are taught openly on pretty much all college campuses. The Frankfurt School popularized Political Correctness. How could an idea that only a select few people within the extreme left knew about just 30 years ago, today be so widely known and used if Cultural Marxism is just a simple myth?

Celtiberian wrote:Being that "cultural Marxism" is a myth concocted by the reactionary right in order to defame Marxism, it would be rather silly for communists to actually identify with the label. (I recommend reading the link provided if you're interested in learning how the proponents of the myth define it.)

I'd actually say it's a myth that was concocted by the reactionary right to defame social liberalism, and basically any form of cultural freedom. If you associate gay marriage, miscegenation, abortion, etc with "Marxism," you can win the hearts and minds of idiots who are still afraid of the Red Menace. I think you're giving Marxists too much credit here; it's the center-Left they want to defame.

Mr. Squiggle wrote:However, the Frankfurt School became frustrated at the persistent lack of interest by the working class in revolt. The Frankfurt School believed that true Socialism could not happen until they were freed from Western culture and Western society had been destroyed. With the working class no longer interested in left-wing ideology, who could substitute for the working class as the agent of revolution? The Frankfurt School's answer was marginalized groups who they believed were threats to Western culture, such as blacks, immigrants, feminists, LGBT people etc.

We're all familiar with the narrative, but why don't you furnish us with textual examples from the extensive writings of the Frankfurt school to validate this claim?

And, to the extent figures associated with Frankfurt School abandoned the proletariat as agents of revolution, they departed from the very scientific socialism that distinguished Marxism from previous schools of communist thought. So let's try to refrain from dignifying such individuals with the title 'Marxist.'

I have got to say, I do not believe Cultural Marxism to be a "myth", any visit to a college campus, particularly a Social Science class will have you thinking differently.

I've been involved in the humanities for several years and can testify that none of the professors I've encountered have disseminated opinions clearly traceable to the Frankfurt School. Are many of them social liberals? Certainly, but liberalism can be justified from a wide range of philosophical concepts and is currently practiced because of the utility it possesses for the process of capital accumulation.

The Frankfurt School popularized Political Correctness. How could an idea that only a select few people within the extreme left knew about just 30 years ago, today be so widely known and used if Cultural Marxism is just a simple myth?

The source of so-called "political correctness" was not a small sect of European intellectuals intent on annihilating Western civilization, and to seriously believe otherwise is to entertain conspiracy theories of the most inane variety.

cogarian888 wrote:I'd actually say it's a myth that was concocted by the reactionary right to defame social liberalism, and basically any form of cultural freedom. If you associate gay marriage, miscegenation, abortion, etc with "Marxism," you can win the hearts and minds of idiots who are still afraid of the Red Menace. I think you're giving Marxists too much credit here; it's the center-Left they want to defame.

Fair point, but can it not serve both purposes simultaneously?

Celtiberian wrote:

Fair point, but can it not serve both purposes simultaneously?

In the sense that it portrays Marxists as anti-Western Jews who want to undermine civilization, I suppose. Still, I think it's more red-baiting social liberals than it is directed at Marxists, who they view as largely irrelevant these days. Hence the whole "Marxists realized they suck so they started turning to non-Whites, women, and homosexuals to undermine White values" myth. Marxism as you and I know it isn't exactly the target, but I'm rambling. You're basically right, I'm just nitpicking.