>>especially since entering the middleclass domain
> >of higher education. Is that subjectivity merely a false consciousness
YES
There have been many working class intellectuals throughout modern
history (the age of capitalism), but not in academia. Working class
consciousness is grounded in an understanding of the class struggle
(the built in inequity of capitalism as a system), it's the essence
of Marx & Engel's development of historical materialism. But it's
easiest to see in political writings of real marxists, like Marx,
Lenin, Trotsky, when they grapple with real issues. You won't find
it very accessible in the more philosophical writings. Read some of
their histories or polemics, but try to get annotated versions so you
can follow the issues of the times.
hope that helps
Pete Farruggio
>Nate, can you unpack for the illiterate/ignorant what makes consciousness
>false (as if there were a 'true' state of consciousness)? I understand the
>struggle over appropriating/not appropriating bourgeois tools; I can get
>worried about losing a desire to work against the institutional grain. But I
>can't get worried about losing consciousness, since I can't imagine either
>not being conscious or not being blinded by rationality. I think that has
>hindered my take-up of Marxism generally.
>
> >Class tend to be defined as something lacking content or in the negative
> >rather than the positive. This is difficult for me because its a big
> >aspect of my subjectivity especially since entering the middleclass domain
> >of higher education. Is that subjectivity merely a false consciousness or
> >is their content there. There seems to be important bourgeois tools
> >involved that I don't want to or have my children denied of, yet I also
> >don't want to lose my consciousness in the process. If its simply false the
> >solution lies in appropriating a bourgeois conscious, but if there is
> >content it becomes a little more difficult. I see Walkerdine pointing
> >toward the latter.
> >
>
>
>Judith Diamondstone (732) 932-7496 Ext. 352
>Graduate School of Education
>Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
>10 Seminary Place
>New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1183