Marxism: Overthrowing exploitation

Karl Marx’s philosophy was not to encourage communism but too simplify and point out who had rights and who did not. “Marxism is the theory of how the normality of our everyday world, with its quiet routines and rituals…is riven within by what Marx called ‘class struggle’” (Ryan 232). The bourgeoisie had money to control laborers or the proletariat. Marx then explained why workers revolted and it is then why this ideology assimilates to the clip posted. See although the bourgeoisie are wealthy, their wealth derives from the workers they exploit; without them the rich are powerless. In the clip, taken from the movie “Born in East L.A.”, Rudy [played by Cheech Marin] is an American born citizen who is mistakenly sent to Mexico. In this clip, after many attempts to get back to the United States, he gathers up hundreds of immigrants and crosses the border together with them. This is where the Marxist point emerges.

The bourgeoisie, as mentioned, exploit their workers with their power. One single worker against the rich is powerless but a mob of prols who stop working in protest may greatly affect the upper class. As the movie concludes, we see that two Border agents [the bourgeoisie] in vain attempt to stop them and Rudy as well as his girlfriend end up going back to East Los Angeles. I thought it was great way to portray an aspect of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. “What the bourgeoisie, therefore, produces above all, is its own grave diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable” (Marx 260).

Works Cited

Marx, Karl. "The Manifesto of the Communist Party (1848)." Ryan, Julie Rivkin and Michael. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Berlin: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1998. 260.

Ryan, Julie Rivkin and Michael. "Introduction: "Starting With Zero: Basic Marxism"." Ryan, Julie Rivkin and Michael. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Berlin: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1998. 232.