TERMS

What does dialectical materialism refer to?

The concept that a society’s economic system controls the foundation of its institutions, values, and beliefs.

What is the base in a society?

The economic system that organizes a society’s production of goods, including work conditions, division of labor, and property relations.

What does the superstructure consist of?

The social, political, and ideological systems generated by the base, including media, family, education, and religion.

What are material circumstances?

The economic conditions underlying a society.

What does historical situation refer to?

The social, political, and ideological atmosphere generated by the material circumstances.

What is an ideology?

The body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc. that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.

Who are the bourgeoisie?

The bourgeois class that controls the world’s natural, economic, and human resources, in contrast to the proletariat.

What does proletariat refer to?

The working class, especially those earning by manual labor or dependent on daily or casual employment.

What is commodification?

When an object that does not usually have value is given an economic value; the subordination of realms to capitalism.

What is use-value?

The usefulness of a commodity.

What is exchange-value?

The monetary value of a commodity.

What is sign value?

The value placed on a commodity for its ability to impress others.

What does conspicuous consumption mean?

Extreme focus on material acquisition; spending lavishly to impress others with wealth.