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butter
30th July 2014, 19:26
'sup.

I'm a Marxist. I've been interested in socialism for about ~2 years and threw myself into the fray last summer, where I began reading a lot of rudimentary texts by Marx/Engels (communist manifesto, critique of gotha programme, critique of feurbach, the first three chapters of Capital). My trajectory is somewhat atypical in that whilst I've been long curious about Marxism, I actually only began reading Marx in an academic setting. I joined a trot political party uneasily after realising that actually that's where all the praxis is going on in my area, and they're the only ones actually with a clue. That rapidly proletarianised my understanding from this quite petit-bourgeois approach to Marx, and since that point I've been weighing up my love for the academic, theoretical analysis with a very grounded view of the objective situation and realistic expectations of how to build at a low level of consciousness.

I made the terrible mistake of acquainting myself with leftist tumblr last year, where leninist-anarchist infights occur daily and little analysis is made. From those spats I realised I was neither a tankie or a USSR apologist, nor was I was a future member of black block. I flirted with (and still flirt with) elements of post-structuralism, whilst disliking others. I still have a soft spot for Guy Debord I really shouldn't have.

Feminism is ridiculously important to me. The necessity to understand how superstrucutral oppressions (such as patriarchy) are sucked into capitalism and made even more nauseous, more pronounced, more unequal (inequality is capitalism's game, after all) becomes key. I'm delighted that there is this new wave of consciousness w/r/t feminism, even if a lot of it is liberal bullshit. Particularly the emergence of black feminist ideas written a couple of decades ago (although white feminists espousing them like they're new, eck) is exciting. I am disappointed at the lack of class analysis going on, especially when it comes to non-western approaches to feminism, given how imperialism, capitalism, and gender are so intertwined.

About myself beyond politics - I'm from a military/govt. family (yay state repression), living in England. I'm teaching myself French. I'm fond of fashion and punk music. I watch Game of Thrones avidly.

To be honest, I'm not sure what I expect from this forum asides from more detailed recommendations and more infighting.

Q
31st July 2014, 02:04
Welcome :)

If you have political questions, you can ask them in the Learning forum. That's why it's there after all!

If you have questions about your account, don't hesitate to send me a PM or ask here.

I suppose the 'trot party' you're referring to is either the SPEW or the SWP? And yes, you can expect much infighting. It's what probably makes up some 75% of this place.

I look forward to your more academic in /theory. There's a need for more people like you :)

Trap Queen Voxxy
31st July 2014, 02:56
As a vagina, feminism is pretty important to me too, haha, welcome

Orange Juche
31st July 2014, 03:08
Hello! :grin:

butter
31st July 2014, 14:04
Q: you'd be right on that count, but I'd rather not be known as a member of [x] particular party. I'm not a hack, and I still struggle with certain aspects of membership to my party to be honest, it's a little strained, but the friendships I've made and the general direction seems solid. And in general, in the circles I've travelled in, trots are treated like bile and I'd rather not be subject to that.

Marxism in the academy is odd to be honest - I've found its far more acceptable in disciplines which are further from economics (ironically, given that economics is the foundation of Marxist ideas). When you apply Marxism in a discipline such as literature, which is all cultural, it's easier to assimilate and many academics pluck from Marxist theory without a real appreciation of it.

The Idler
31st July 2014, 21:26
Welcome