In this talk, Alan Woods - editor of marxist.com - discusses the relationship between Marxism and art, noting the nature of art under class society and how we can create a world where everyone can express themselves freely through art.

Marxists are sometimes accused of only being interested in pouring over economic data and political analysis; that we have no interest in art and culture. Nothing could be further from the truth.

By striving for the end of capitalism, and freeing men and women from exploitation, we seek to give ordinary workers more time to enjoy and participate in culture, and to raise art to new heights.

Art under capitalism is chained to the profit motive. Culture is a business. And many of humanity’s finest works of art, music, and literature are locked up in private collections or reserved for the wealthy.

Moreover, art has become increasingly shallow and pedestrian, reflecting the crisis of the capitalist system itself. Rather than empowering artists to experiment and develop new ideas, billions are thrown at derivative dross by a shrinking handful of media monopolies. The rot of capitalist society is reflected in a rotten culture.

The solution to art's problems is not to be found in art itself, but in society. In this session, Alan Woods, editor of In Defence of Marxism, will offer a fascinating Marxist analysis of the history of art – pointing the way towards the liberation of art and all human culture from the shackles of capitalism.

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