The provocative title of Bad Marxism that John Hutnyk chose for this book appears to promise several things: 1) on the theoretical level, a careful analytical deconstruction of bad readings of Marx, point by point; 2) on the political level, a reexamination of Marx's writings, proving that the collapse of “really existing socialism” was merely a bad dream resulting from a deficient reading of Marx; 3) on the economic level, a reevaluation of the bibliographical capital invested by Marxists who have spent so much time and money reading other Marxists like them, an investment they may now hope to recuperate; 4) on the historical level, perhaps a post-postmodern comeback of Marxism. But no, none of the above is attempted: for Hutnyk declares himself to be a bad Marxist, a Marxist who is trying to avoid good Marxism, which would amount to a totalitarian party dogma. Exactly what is to be...
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Book Review|
July 01 2006
How to Be a Bad Marxist Available to Purchase
Bad Marxism: Capitalism and Cultural Studies
, by Hutnyk, John, London
: Pluto Press
, 2004
, 251
pages, $24.95/£15.99, PB ISBN 0–7453–2266–2
Katya Mandoki
Katya Mandoki
Author Information
DR KATYA MANDOKI IS PROFESSOR OF AESTHETICS, SEMIOTICS, AND CULTURAL THEORY AT THE UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA METROPOLITANA IN MEXICO. HER PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE PROSAICA: INTRODUCCIÓN A LA ESTÉTICA DE LO COTIDIANO (1994), FOUR BOOKS IN PROCESS OF PUBLICATION (2006), AND MORE THAN 100 PAPERS ON AESTHETICS AND SEMIOTICS.
Search for other works by this author on:
Cultural Politics (2006) 2 (2): 255–258.
Citation
Katya Mandoki; How to Be a Bad Marxist. Cultural Politics 1 July 2006; 2 (2): 255–258. doi: https://doi.org/10.2752/174321906778054583
Download citation file:
Advertisement
16
Views