According to Marx (following Rousseau?) our human potential is most fully realized through our interaction with nature–through the creative, thoughtful transformation of raw materials into a useful, finished product. We can have an intimate identification and relationship with such products. Think “the fruits of your labor” or a person who manufactures a small amount of fine “craft” products, or the popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects people undertake–not simply to save money, but for the satisfaction that comes from saying it is truly “yours”.
This basic relationship between our labor and what we produce is broken through the capitalist relations of production (commodification of everything), producing a sense of alienation and systematic exploitation.
Alienated Labor
Questions 1-4 What are the four (4) aspects of Marx’ concept of alienation (estranged labor)?
Ritzer text pp. 52-56
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-Y2p-Yx9ObjugyFNL880dQtueDBbIyH/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MnOXr1wY126Jar3aL9yI2DeUiUru6jra/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MP3v87cQQP-2kWWTZaqHCH-6MXp2jdW4/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VTXBSJpM45tdyb4b-GWToUvlBW8eMVcO/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13VwwMca7ZHUkXUGgGJpd3z5fwU3XMmWq/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RJI2YDRUGCSkYLuMEFv4ctuzSvTnmrJS/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k_dlKppJeYUBQKmZHFpHUvmVDkeRHmEc/view?usp=sharing
Capitalist Relations of Exploitation
Q5. How is profit (surplus value) realized through the exploitation of workers and the distinction between labor and labor power?
Ritzer text pp. 59-62
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkRAFmJs4wP292-jN6g_Qf5vkqmSu1tG/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ArLPgpgi0E3q1LikFIjppJlbLjhdTGiD/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d_Q1lCj8crVEx3Ni6KxwDK_XSnOkA4uk/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTcVPzggmrAVedyDMyaLjefICt_D-rH_/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15xRB0rA2qcotDGwfrPXH8VMtBunuMqxM/view?usp=sharing
https://oyc.yale.edu/sociology/socy-151/lecture-13 [33:00-39:00 approx. (6) minutes]
No outside sources
