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.
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...
