Visual Studies 1 - UVC Base & Superstructure

From the given that in order to survive as an individual and as a species it is necessary for humans to continually produce the necessities for sustaining life. In order to do this there is a need for the individual to enter into, willingly or unwillingly, relationships with others who have the same need. [This is accepted as a 'given' and that no other alternatives did or can exist. Whether this is true I know not!].

Marx argued that this was the foundation for the understanding of the development of society through the ages. He furthered his argument by stressing the importance of the constraints imposed by the nature of labour that required people to enter into definite relationships, one with another, and that ad-hoc or casual relationships would fail to meet the needs of the group. Marx, using the term, productive relationships, identified such relationships as the economic base of of society. From this economic base there arises the superstructure of society - ideas about acceptable behaviour, laws, religion, political institutions and customs.

As the tools of the economic base change the productive relationships change, so will the superstructure as it adjusts to the tensions that arise from these relationship changes. Stresses that are not released by adjustments accepted by the majority lead to conflict and sometimes violent revolution. Tensions are inevitable as the old ruling class fights with all the means at their disposal to retain the status quo that serves them so well. Recent events in the Middle East are an example. History suggests that the overthrow of one ruling class will lead to the rise of another that may be more enlightened but are equally as keen to hang on to the privileges that come from their new status.

I found Chandler's comments on base and superstructure confusing and without structure. In essence nothing made sense to me which is a comment on me rather than Chandler's work. It may also be that I was unclear whether to stay with the request in the Course material to read the section entitled 'Base and Superstructure' or to study the other articles.

I see very little difference between the looking at society in general or the media and the arts. The media and the arts are not separate from the society in which they exist and are constrained by what they do by the norms of that society. Whilst it can be argued that the individual artist can attempt to live outside these norms the very act of doing so presumes a knowledge of what those norms are and what impact they have on the individual. It is impossible to live outside of a society because of the need to acquire in some way the means of survival. The economic structure of any modern society is inextricably linked to all that goes on within that society and as long as there remains a concept of individual ownership of 'property' this will remain the case. I presume not even the most anti-society artist would happily stand by whilst someone takes a piece of work that strikes their fancy.