File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1997/97-03-12.024, message 95


From: blunose-AT-interserv.com
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 15:46:13 -0800
Subject: Re:M-I: Final word on Solidarity and Alan Wald


From: Louis Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu>
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 1997 15:55:32 -0500 (EST)
<snip>
Leaving all this aside, I must say that Wald's post represents everything I
detest about academic Marxism and this has nothing to do with "politics".
This is what Zarembka does not get, when he says that I should focus on
Levy's ideas rather than his personality. But the real issue is not Levy or
Wald's "personality". It has more to do with the problem of elitism in the
socialist movement that stands apart from the personalities of individuals.
This elitism is at the very core of academic Marxism and it is poison. We
can not build a socialist movement that allows intellectuals like this to
lord it over the rest of us.
<snip>
The same sort of arrogance that marks Jerry Levy's characterization of Juan
Inigo as an "Argentinian accountant" is soaking through Wald's comments on
my Morrow post. In nearly every paragraph, he takes great pains to
intimidate me by alluding to his published work. Meanwhile, he doesn't have
the intellect or the political savvy to comment on the ideas. The fact that
Solidarity attracts individuals like Alan Wald should be deeply troubling.
This type of snobbery would be picked up in an instant by any average
working stiff. It is the sort of milieu that DSA has taken great pains to
construct and Solidarity seems intent on creating a leftish version of from
all evidence.
------------------------------------------------

Gay comments:
Knowing nothing about Solidarity, I'm going to bet that they would have
to work their asses off  to *avoid* this kind of snobbery and these kind of
individuals. 

This kind of elitist bullshit permeates any leftish group I've had 
acquaintance with here in Canada. Any time I join, participate,
help, or  socialize with lobby groups, parties, activist organizations,
etc. I can't help but run into the *"I don't watch TV"* group of people.
They won't read popular newspapers or listen to country/rap/dance
music either. Now, I enjoy a good foreign flic and classic literature,
but these people are positively smug about it. (Of course, I'll take a 
John Candy movie and a hockey game the next night.)

What is it about the left that attracts and fosters this anti-working
class snobbery?

This remoteness and cultural divide is a major obstacle to building
"solidarity" and a mass movement. As you point out, working
people spot this snobbery a mile away. I think this is why the people
I find myself admiring the most are those who challenge bourgeois
hegemony by  *participating* in popular culture.

I always find Gary MacLennan's work on culture very
illuminating too. And it's very encouraging to see that his work
gets presented in popular Australian media. I wish more academics
(especially Canadian academics) would follow this model.

Two cents;
Gay Harley
Toronto, Canada

PS Thank you to Richard & Jon for their thoughtful replies to my 
ramblings about list matters. 



     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---


   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005