Marx’s view on culture
It was Marx’s idea that a political superstructure of any state can be determined by economic factors; factors in which social classes can dictate its development or regression. For him, those states that have a very good and well run economy will most likely develop. But there have been criticisms on his view. Although some people would simply skim over the meaning of what Marx said, others were heated up by the message’s implied meaning. He did not acknowledge people other than those who emerge as the elites. For Marx, the state is dependent to the elites. If the elites, whom are also known as capitalists will use their resources and run the government, development will be achieved. Hence, without this role they play, government will be financially off-handed and will eventually fail. In this scenario, people’s equality is not recognized. The bourgeoisie and lower class men will always be inferior with the elites and there is no chance for them to climb up the social class ladder. Once poor, one will forever be drifting in the shadows of sad reality and once wealthy, one will always enjoy good life and supremacy.
In my perspective, I will side on those people who got rattled by what Marx has said. It is really judgmental how he disregarded almost the majority people of one’s state and favored only those who are affluent. For me, development can be achieved through people working all together and defy the rigidity of social hierarchy. By this, everyone is entitled to have a good life that they have deserved and worked hard for. But in the harsh reality and the kind of culture that we inhibit in the 21st century, power and influence over the other is becoming the trend. We can now see Marx’s point of view, where the rich people have control on everything and those who have unfortunate lives suffer most of the time. Realistically speaking, I think that this trend will last for many more years because of people treating money and influence as power. It is often sad to realize that it is still better to keep Marx’s elite people in the government who do contribute to the state’s progress than today’s elite who merely enrich themselves and forsake the country’s development.
Culture Industry
As of the present, the most influential culture that has been recognized all over the world is that of the United States. At any country, you will see products of America. From the food we eat, the clothes we wear, cars and technology we use, America’s culture is everywhere. The country’s culture is then regarded as the highest commodified one. But in the Philippine context, one culture from Asia has made its way to the mainstream. It is the pop culture of Korea. It was during last year when Korean influence spread like a virus to the people of the Philippines. From the music we listen to, the afternoon and night shows we watch, the food we eat and the “queer” fashion sense they have, majority of Filipinos embraced it wholeheartedly. Some even sing Korean songs without knowing the meaning of it. Some Filipino teens imitate Korean sing and dance group. Some Filipino celebrities even played a role of a Korean in a Korean based show. This is what the K-pop culture has brought to the Philippines.
Not that I am racist but I despise how this so-called K-pop culture has been carried out in the Philippines. Having said this, I do not compromise the relationship I have with some of my Korean friends. They are fun to be with, especially when they relate themselves to the customs and ways of living in our nation. I am just not comfortable with their queerness. I find the way they entertain people as very attention-seeker by over-decorating themselves, to the point that what they are not appealing to me anymore (my opinion does not generalize the perception of all Filipinos). What I also do not like about what is happening in the present is that Filipino actors and actresses play and role themselves as Koreans, making a Korean adopted television show catch more attention than Filipino made ones. Why not stick to the Filipino roles, make more Filipino story based shows and make it more famous than those we adopted from other cultures? That way, we can be proud how our culture based shows are better and more interesting; especially that media is a powerful tool to influence people. Other than that, I am fine with Koreans.
If I will be asked if I want our culture to be commodified, I will wholeheartedly say No. Philippines have been regarded as a country with diversified culture because of colonizers that have influenced us from the past and the rise of new commodified cultures that penetrated our lives in the present. For some reason I realized how ample our original Filipino cultures are if we are going to sort what has been a diversified Filipino culture. This made me think of “parang ayaw ko ata makitang suot ng mga banyaga ang ating mga barong, baro’t saya. Atin yun eh”. For me, I would like to preserve our original Filipino cultures for Filipinos only. Only for that time I can say that we have our very own culture.
Feminism
Feminism has been recognized as an ideology in the 19th century and has been around up until the present. All over the world, feminism has grown to become an institution that raises gender concerns, especially women’s rights and equality. Many feminist movements happened in the past for it to succeed in its goals. Many have given their lives to promote equality among men and women. But has feminism really succeeded in its battle?
In global scale, I can say that the goals of feminism that are equality and proper representation of women with men and in society, respectively, have not been that properly rooted. Many women are still abuse, molested and undermined by some societies. A few regard them as sexual objects and are born inferior to men. These things still happen and have become alarming. So, has feminism really succeeded?
In the Philippine context, in the present, I can say that the concept of feminism is recognized in the society for the reasons that women are now educated, competent with the jobs that are usually are for men, they vote and have the capacity to indulge themselves in the realms of politics and are also a good provided for their family. What we can see here are good things brought forth by feminism in our society. It changed the old cultural notion that women are inferior to men. But looking at this ideal feminist point of view lays its imperfection. It seems inevitable that abuse to women can be avoided. In the Philippines, rape has been a very gruesome experience that a woman would not want to get herself into. But then, it happens. Molestation has been rampant. Undermining in work places still exist. Women are not comfortable leaving the house late at night for the fear of being harassed. Now tell me, does feminism really succeeded?
Either way you view the scenario, whether global or local selection context, women are being oppressed and suppressed by men in the society. it is a sad reality that it would stay for as long as there are abusive men and a judgmental society. Feminism, along side its promise to elevate the role of women in the society must push further for it to achieved its goals. Nothing is perfect, and so as feminism and men. Even how optimistic I am on equality between men and women, I frankly say I do not see such “equality” in the near future. Perhaps maybe, someday.
