Social theorist and historical figure Karl Marx surprised university students with a surprise appearance. Walking through the corridors, the shock and awe of passersby proved that Marx is still one to stand out from the crowd. When asked by a student why the spontaneous appearance, his response was simply to observe, to watch and listen to the legacy of the manifesto he helped produce two centuries ago – how it still holds sway, how it holds up, how it has changed.
Like his philosophy, his familiar image, impressive face and head of grey to white hair still manage to convey profound expression. Matched with a simple dark suit and vest that loosely fits his imposing figure – he manages to be both casual and stylish. His impressive, truly iconic, visage and look is one to rival the quintessential hipster of present. History had come alive but he risked being swamped by both admirers and haters. Much like the very subject he’s attached to, he would have to bare the brunt of scrutiny.
You could see from a far that his mind was scrutinizing everything that he was informed as being “modern.” What he was most drawn to concepts like “social media” and the “selfie.” He watched with curiosity and confusion as myriads approached him and hastily sort a strange kind of momentary companionship; moments replicated and immortalized on digital, ever growing profiles. “Is this how man makes history?” he asked. But he was unanswered.
He was curious to attend a lecture – either history or politics. Marx sat in on a seminar where first year Masters students debated classical and contemporary critiques of sociological theory. He chose to sit at the back of the lecture theatre, reclining to a posture of ease and composure. What struck him most, quietly relaying his musings to an assistant lecturer were, what he saw as a renewed interest to faith – the ideologies that he viewed as a hindrance to the progression and eventual establishment of the socialist society he envisioned. Indeed, many avowed socialist leaders interpreted Marx’s views of the “traditional” to religion and that traditional society espoused by the bourgeoisie was embedded in the belief in God.
In his time, it was still a custom for the religious institutions to influence the way in which political and social matters. Due to this prevalence, faith became the very foundation of cultural and social identity. Significant to socialist government policy and propaganda was the discouragement of religion. Marx was informed by one student, majoring in history, how states had gone about this.
He was told that Joseph Stalin associated religion with the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire and its identity of autocracy and corruption. Mao Zedong believed that it was the root cause of all conflict. Siad Barre of Somalia, although he didn’t intend to eradicate faith, attempted to nationalise it with tenets of socialism but this ultimately caused tension amongst those who still believed in the old system. The latter is significant in that contemporary Marxists strive to find equal ground between freedom and tolerance of faith.
Melancholic in tone, he said:
“I once thought the proletariat had nothing to lose but their chains. But it seems these new philosophers and followers have put the chains back on by turning the movement, the utopia I had envisaged all those years ago into a faith of endless interpretation – the revolution seems futile now.”
Members of the audience looked perplexed. One student remarked, “but it was you who said that society is not of individuals but of inter-relationships in which the individual stands. How can you expect society to eradicate something that for many makes a significant part of their identity – aren’t you also then denying major parts of history? ” Marx was quick to respond “it is the sigh of the oppressed, used for a mind to deal with occurrences that cannot be understood.” It became clear that Marx was uncomfortable with these revised ideas that had gradually been integrated into his philosophy.
A silence that lingered with uncertainty took hold of the room; time came to a halt and history suddenly appeared redundant.
