Lecture on Capitalism and Critical Pedagogy

Introduction

• The focus of the lecture is on capitalism and critical pedagogy.
• The lecture is based on a book to be published by Rutledge.
• Critical Pedagogy: Engages with meaning-making in society, questioning who controls and mediates meanings.
• Public Pedagogy: Explores educational sites outside classrooms, including social media, for public engagement on issues like gender, race, and class.

Economic Crises and Public Engagement

• The global economic crisis in 2007 was among many in recent decades.
• The crisis has prompted public discussions about the economy, facilitated by social media.
• General public's economic knowledge often dismissed by economists, raising questions about democracy and public involvement in economic policy.

Understanding Capitalism

• Common mainstream narratives equate capitalism with free markets, private enterprise, and democracy.
• Actual capitalism is defined by the class structure of production and the appropriation of surplus value by capitalists.
• Surplus value: Workers produce more value than they are paid; the excess is profit for capitalists.

Ideology and Capitalism

• Ideological Definitions: Various definitions exist, impacting critiques of capitalism.
• False Consciousness: A concept suggesting limited understanding of the full capitalist system.
• Common Sense: Gramsci's notion of socially shared beliefs; not static but evolving and contested.

Public Pedagogy and Everyday Economists

• Public pedagogy aims to engage with societal conditions outside formal education.
• Everyday Economists: Non-professionals discussing the economy based on personal experiences.

Media and Representation

• Different representations of capitalism and economy in media, both by professionals and everyday people.
• Examples include art installations and public voting on capitalism effectiveness.

Critiques and Perspectives

• Discussion of neoliberal discourse emphasizing personal responsibility and blaming individuals for economic failures.
• The complexity of capitalism critique, considering diverse personal experiences and historical contexts.

Future Considerations

• Calls for an alternative to capitalism, but challenges in imagining such alternatives.
• Critiques of capitalism might inadvertently renew it by being co-opted in media and advertising.

Conclusion

• Emphasizes the importance of understanding and engaging with various lived experiences to foster solidarity and class consciousness.
• Quotes from Marshall Berman stress the need for intellectuals to stay connected with everyday life to contribute meaningfully to social change.