Karl Marx & Conflict Theory: Crash Course Sociology #6

Today we’ll continue to explore sociology’s founding theorists with a look at Karl Marx and his idea of historical materialism. We’ll discuss modes of production, their development, and how they fit into Marx’s overall theory of historical development, along with class struggle and revolution. We’ll also discuss how Marx’s ideas gave rise to Gramsci’s idea of hegemony, and to conflict theories more generally.
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[@itsnotaphase2074]

You can argue that Marxism doesn’t work, but Marxism as an idea isn’t evil. Blaming Marx for Stalin and Mao is like blaming Jesus for the crusades.

[@mr.coffee6242]

Well said.

[@ashleyk9328]

I really think it’s a great idea but I know it won’t work because people are evil. Marxist or not.

[@unknownpatriot9627]

That’s is pretty well composed

[@TheFlameBladeWielder]

hence goes the saying "Karl Marx: as misunderstood by his followers as by his detractors"

[@nadeyd9567]

Mr. Coffee absolutely! Really good analogy too!

[@ethanomcbride]

Homegirl busted out the red blazer for this one

[@nabilayasmine3319]

I just realized lmao

[@jakek.2084]

Красная Америка на горизонте.

[@stephen2576]

@@jakek.2084 Red America on the horizon.

[@1035TheIce]

@@stephen2576 ew

[@carlahernandez7757]

lollll

[@Benioff1]

This video gave a very neutral look on Marx. It never said that Marx's ideas were right or good. The video simply explained what his theories were and where they came from.

[@PragmaticAntithesis]

If only everyone were like this.

[@ronpaulrevered]

Do you think Marx's ideas are right or good?

[@Benioff1]

Of course I don't.

[@ronpaulrevered]

Why are they wrong or bad?

[@Benioff1]

Are you kidding? Marxist governments have been scourge of mankind from whenever to wherever.

[@lineikatabs]

I like how she's wearing red while talking about Marx.

[@m00py1]

I'm taking sociology and studied Marx some myself before school, and everything perfectly lines up. This is the best introduction to Marxism I've heard

[@kshinji]

try mine: "gee i wonder why things have value, hmm, labor always precedes increase in value so it must be it, and labor is man hours, except when someone works poorly, slowly or with outdated modes of production, so let's call it 'socially constructive man hours', now that we established that let's go and take this grocery store i work at, because now i own it"

[@shabnamarshad2490]

It's a really blessing that your content is available free.

[@BruceMOable]

first time I had Marx explained and not immediately disparaged. Growing up during Cold War was limiting

[@tyrozinehappykitchen]

duckymagic57 you are clearly a white man who thinks this is a bad thing?

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

Its a shame that we can't view ideas in an unbiased manner. I wanna be taught different ideas, not just force-fed one side.

[@ThisisPam]

No it was not limiting, it was eye-opening. Nothing like seeing the violence, oppression and terrible poverty in real time.

[@marciamakesmusic]

@@ThisisPam Yeah, seeing it from your TV screen while the Soviet Union experienced rapid economic growth. Everyone likes to say communism was bad and repeat Nazi propaganda though

[@ThisisPam]

@@marciamakesmusic Conclusions reached by serious study of history and facts used to be respected, but now all we do is swallow what our neo-marxist professors feed us at the trough. Do not be taken in. They have an agenda just like everyone else.

[@samkc3423]

Finally. The only video that has truly made me understand Marx and his theories

[@kshinji]

it did not really

[@winstonsmith6863]

Loving how terrified capitalists are by someone just explaining what Marx thought in a clear and concise way.

[@robertroibu2926]

What's scary about a seudo intellectual failing to understand Kant who he based most of his ideas off of.

[@pernicusnew9750]

@@robertroibu2926 I don't trust the opinions of someone who can't even spell pseudo.

[@robertroibu2926]

@@pernicusnew9750 English is stupid you can't hear the p so why include it. Point stands thou.

[@cobthehistorian4857]

Love it when dumbasses try to explain that communism, which has failed in every country, is somehow not one of the worst systems ever.

[@rubymvos105]

@@cobthehistorian4857 love it when people try to somehow say that capitalism hasn't failed. I mean, who is it serving? certainly not the people that work for it, certainly not the people dying of preventable poverty, and certainly not those in slavery under the prison system, to name a few

[@josephbiggie6047]

Did you guys even watch the video before commenting? This wasn't even about Communism. It was about Conflict theory....

[@Slenderman63323]

But Marx is in the title, and he deserves a good helicopter ride.

[@michelibarra191]

Can't you see how conflict theory (a.k.a. "class warfare theory") has enabled tyrants like Lenin and Mao throughout history?

[@nimooos]

Michel Ibarra Díaz de Arce yeah, and nationalism enabled both first and second world wars. Does that make nationalism toxic in general?

[@andromedagalaksi2668]

You need a Pinochet!

[@IgnisDomini97]

@ECCENTRIC "HAHAHAHA PINOCHET'S MASS MURDER OF HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS WAS HILARIOUS!" - You.

[@trorisk]

“There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” ― Warren Buffett

[@krishlaadens]

I know close to nothing about Sociology and ended up watching this by pure boredom. But I've got to say, I'm happily surprised. This was intersting to listen to and Nicole is an awesome teacher/lecturer.

[@bihansiceklone]

SEIZE THE MEMES OF PRODUCTION

[@danielhall271]

+

[@andyb6177]

This right here is why i go to the internet.

[@melonlord1414]

Agent Orange +

[@pollysmith5943]

Agent Orange this is my favourite comment from my lifetime so far.

[@whhe11]

Agent Orange Aye I see you in secular talk comments too.

[@MythicalRedFox]

Wait, you're telling me that in a sociology course they're going to talk about... * gasp * _a famous sociologist?!_ The horror!

[@rtaraquin]

Yes, and let's blame that jerk who invented fire for the deaths of tens of billions.

[@architeuthis3476]

Actually, phoenixhost, s/he probably did. Most leaps in human technology are advances in military technology. However, we don't currently have written records, so its anybody's guess.

[@jeremyhansen9197]

Nonamearisto Technically he didn't call for anything, he simply predicted it.

[@derickgabrillo1579]

MythicalRedFox how do you italicize the text on a comment?

[@EmilReiko]

Tecnically no, they talked about strike and taking over means of production by simply start to run the factories themselves. You can find no plead to kill the owners of the means of production in Marx writings. Not even between the lines. This whole thing about killing and prosecuting the different thinking arises within later Marx inspired ideologies. Inspired, because i will claim that Leninism and its derivatives like Maoism is not Marxist and hardly socialist, but stateist, which in its pure form is rather (no totally) anti-marxist, when it comes to anything else than using Marx as a logo. Leninism is forged in the same way as some extremist Christian movements, that is: "You take the worst part of the source material, isolate it from its context and uplift it to a universal truth". Contemporary to the rise of Leninism, other dominant ideologies (actual Marxian strain of thoughts as well as social anarchism) within the labor movements rose up to confront the totalitarianism of Leninism, but alas - the Bolsheviks managed to seize state power and use it to suppress the leftwing and reinstate a mutated form of bureaucratic bastard capitalism, labeled socialism yet inherently alien to socialism.

[@DontIgnoreMe]

I really like how this video manages to convey so many of Marx's ideas in such a short time frame. That must have been a real challenge!

[@b.r.52]

Revisiting this video now that I'm a teacher and I agree with the many commenters here that this is the cleanest explanation focused on the ideology of Marx without the political drama and the persona behind it.

[@Wiggyam]

«Yeet the Rich!» -Carl Marks, probably

[@Theokamisenpai]

William Lillevik carrrrrrl, that kills people

[@ibitorucookey-gam7503]

@@Theokamisenpai lol

[@num9908]

These videos are so underrated. Crash course helped me get like a 95 in my psychology class. Now for sociology.

[@larav8016]

I am currently learning about Marxism at school, and I would like to thank you for the clearest, most engaging way of helping me with this topic~

[@phoenix3992]

Cultural Hegemony: The tool used by the ruling class to gaslight the rest. Thank you for revealing to me the term for what I only understood amorphously prior to watching this video. Likewise for Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Representation, which lend terms to my concept of Society as a 'Macro-Organism', with various 'Organs', and ultimately consisting of 'Cellular' interactions, respectively. I will continue to enjoy this series.

[@ArturoStojanoff]

This is a very good and concise explanation of what Marx proposed. I understand it better now, thank you.

[@ArturoStojanoff]

I didn't say whether it was right or wrong. Only that I understood it better.

[@rikafurude6275]

+Friendly Neighborhood Neocon no, you damn fool. marx did not believe they were less important, but that racism, sexism, homophobia, antisemitism and all oppression was based in the material conditions of production. to that end, he believed that fighting these things was the duty of socialism, and that vice-versa, socialism would bring the end of these things. to quote lenin: 'Socialists cannot achieve their great aim without fighting against all oppression'

[@riftus87]

Communism went wrong because you damned fools fell into the hegemonic degeneracy conceived by the elite to fool you into thinking that this society isn't luring itself into a trap. Congrats. You've fucked us all up. "Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. " --John Steinback

[@rikafurude6275]

+ljliang11 well said, but its important to analyse the influence of imperialism and bribing of the first world workers with a portion of the spoils of the global south's exploitation which creates the labour aristocracy and causes them to feel complacent with their position

[@arturoramosbmoviesseriesan4452]

I feel the same way.

[@martinsriber7760]

It's easy to criticise Marx when ignoring that during his time workers were basically slaves.

[@realscummy]

Martin Šriber not dissimilar to today... but yeah you are right, at the time it was much worse

[@gonniez4854]

in what way are working people in western countries today not slaves?

[@Davidow1]

Well, I've got nothing against Marx - what I'm tired of is modern people believing his ideas are applicable to the world as it looks today.

[@RadicalShiba1917]

+blackbloq *World-Systems Analysis intensifies*

[@samguy7654]

Martin Šriber They're still..

[@psp05]

This is legit a 3 week lecture, in one short video. Amazing!

[@nut913]

Huh, he's actually a good philosopher. I'm humbled by my ignorance and arrogance.

[@SashaClaudeee]

Even if you don't like his ideas, he's a great read. Especially Early Marx, when he's more philosophical than economical. He's a lot of fun if you like snark and literary references, e.g. he made fun of a group of radical atheists by titling his critique of them "The Holy Family"

[@fromthebackseat4865]

I just wanted to thank you. You obviously were humble enough to accept your ignorance, which means you were more humble than most people.

[@pratikgore6536]

Side note : Labour Theory of Value has been disproved many times by economists

[@SashaClaudeee]

@@pratikgore6536 which one? There are several versions. It's not accurate to refer to "the" labor theory of value.

[@KoruGo]

Value does not equal cost. Value is just simply Marx saying that the amount of labor is more important. Not only that, other theories of value have far more problems.

[@SolarMechanic]

It'd be interesting if we could see how much of a video, if any, someone had watched before they commented.

[@gamercatsz5441]

I watched it several times since i first saw it. This is probably the best video about Marxism on the internet, IMHO. And it should be shown to every highschool student in the world.

[@Siberius-]

The School of Life had a good video too.

[@oliviamariani4684]

Do crash course music theory!

[@cpi23]

omg yesssss

[@RadicalShiba1917]

Yes, please

[@samguy7654]

olivia mariani Yesssss

[@denisiqra8712]

adam neely should be the host

[@adamperryofficial]

Yes

[@megcorner7023]

Pretty much most of what Karl Marx said makes perfect sense....

[@garrusn7702]

Meg Corner He identified some problems. His solutions are ridiculous. EDIT: I came back to this comment forgetting that I ever made it. . .i am now a Marxist. I knew next to nothing about Marxism when I originally posted this.

[@megcorner7023]

But capitalism hasn't failed yet, it may happen in up to 1000 years, but it will happen just like feudalism failed and primitive communism failed, it's just an evolution of society when humans has a species change their mental attitude

[@Igor-ug1uo]

It doesn't if you get out of the marxists literature bubble and start exploring other ideas. What I can say for sure is that the Marxist economic theory is mostly nonsense largely based on mistakes and misconceptions of the classical economics.

[@zombiesingularity]

@@garrusn7702 His solution was revolution, which isn't ridiculous at all.

[@garrusn7702]

zombiesingularity “Revolution” Yeah, thanks for the specificity.

[@tomallen722]

Honestly, this is so great. As someone who is a Marxist, it's refreshing to see Marx's ideas (and Gramsci! did not expect him turning up) just laid out like this. For anyone engaging in the debates about whether or nor Marxism is good or bad or 'works' misses the point. The point is that Marx's thought (and Marxism more broadly) is a primarily a critical philosophy. It is a way of looking and understanding the world. It's 'validity' is brought about as to whether or not it offers a credible way of explaining how the world works. I'm a Marxist because I think it does offer this. Would you believe that Marxism has been to not only understand how capitalism works but also how 'really existing socalism' functioned or has been used to understand the development of China after Mao? I don't think you can divorce Marxism from the politics of socialism (and, for me, why would you want to?) but my point is that the politics of socialist countries arise because of political and economic questions they had to try answer and whether or not you agree with them, they in no way negate the fundamental aspect of what Marxism is. Indeed, some Marxists readings of say China or the Soviet Union are so critical that they've spawned entirely new political tendencies within the left itself.

[@featuringfranklin]

Thanks for this. It's a pretty well-laid out explanation of Marx's theories that people can understand.

[@KelsaRavenlock]

i see a chicken in every pot and a duck with an envelope hanging from every ceiling

[@featuringfranklin]

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read Das Kapital.

[@pneu9059]

I didn't expect this to be this good, well done well done.

[@eyalronen7503]

This series is awesome! My only "criticism" is on how Nicole talks so fast, it is not that comfortable for non-native English speakers and even though I understand everything she says, I would really appreciate it if she would talk a tad slower, like 90% of current speed would be perfect. It isn't comfortable to learn when I am spending more time conjugating the words in my head than comprehending the actual message of the video.

[@powderdd]

I appreciate the focus on delivering information. Some of the other subjects have tried to punctuate every 30 seconds with unnecessary jokes that often don't land. Thanks for assuming an attention span.

[@SirAmicVarze]

This is the first time I've heard of hegemonic theory. That sounds like a very accurate description of society in my experience.

[@sgtpepper138]

Hey this video is missing from the CC Sociology Playlist. Thanks for making these kickass videos! I'm learning so much and you guys are a huge asset to lifelong learners and curious people. Happy to be a patron. :)

[@droctogonapus1223]

guys it's not evil to consider the benefits of communism. you don't need to tiptoe around the idea.

[@heisvi9317]

Forced dieting?

[@droctogonapus1223]

Bob Bytes that's not a principal of communism.

[@droctogonapus1223]

Principle*

[@kappadarwin9476]

Communism can't really work in practice because the state can be corrupted.

[@Akshayattr1]

@Apple Thor might thunder As a marxist, i acknowledge that flaw in Marxism. But do you know that in communism state doesn't exist? In order to evolve into a communist world, the state too has to be abolished. That is the freeist society. The path to communism comes from socialism. Socialism was there in 20th century and it had corruption in it. The ussr was socialist country trying to achieve communism but failed. The capitalist propaganda and bribery brought all citizens throughout the world or forced them in to submission with threat of starvation by no jobs. This is how much evil capitalism is

[@rishinixon7560]

This was amazing, like all CrashCourse Videos. So structured and organized! Keep up the good work...

[@a_e_hilton]

Lol half of the comments are predicting a shitstorm and the other half are part of the shitstorm - well done people

[@IgnisDomini97]

I mean, they explicitly stated they weren't talking about THAT side of Marx.

[@MichaelFay63]

Yes he did. And Smiths Barbarism!

[@victoryover1156]

Friendly Neighborhood Neocon yes you are correct. But not because he was wrong, but because of Capitalisms new adaptation through debt. Capitalism is finished today. This is why they are having all the problems in the world they are having and why the billionaires are planning UBI for the masses. Their entire system had collapsed.

[@cindyfrempong9352]

im just wondering where the dude is

[@elephantricity]

"I wish Karl would start accumulating capital instead of just writing about it." -- Karl's mom

[@OdinMMA]

Marx was spot on but the knee-jerk reaction will prevent people from thinking about it

[@kshinji]

Yeah, I read Capital, I mean, I tried to read it but this guy and logic, they never sat in the same room. Marxism is an idea that no intelligent person would honestly believe in, so you only get people who like the implications (I would get some of the money that rich people have) and those that want to manipulate masses embrace.

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Really well done. Packed with information, and not watered down. Great!

[@Mrilverzinho]

This is such a great series! She speaks with enthusiasm and it makes it easy to follow. keep it up!

[@kianchristoffern]

I think the true irony, when it comes to Marx, is that now, when very few seriously embrace his ideology, his analysis of history has more than proven itself. That is irony, isn't it?

[@varana]

How has his analysis of history "proven itself"? His analysis of the economics of his own society were quite spot on. That history is a sequence of class struggles, and only substantially influenced by changes in the means of production, and that we can identify distinct eras based on the means and relations of production, and will culminate in a classless society, isn't really seen as tenable, any more.

[@realscummy]

Kian Nielsen you're absolutely right. reading the manifesto was eye opening of how he called late stage imperialist capitalism and the repeating trends that are cropping back up.

[@hedgehog3180]

Kian Nielsen Well communism is slowly becoming more popular.

[@apofis231]

i firmly believe that intersectionality is probably what alienates average people from it. Marx was a genius but his ideas have been stretched to the limit

[@anaxa4883]

I think Gramsci would argue that Marx's lack of relevancy is a direct result of the cultural hegemony that the Bourgeoisie hold. The Bourgeoisie control the media and thus shape the narrative that the working class sees.

[@alp1270]

awesome presentation. She has great ability to explain complicated sociological issues and map them out clearly. Great job thank you

[@GETJUSTICE4U]

Milton Friedman (the guru of modern capitalist economics) famously asserted that the sole purpose of business is to create profits, regardless of the (devastating) social or environmental costs. Think about that. Capitalism, in its purest form, is about creating profits and this is where it fails (disadvantages) ordinary hard working people . For example, IBM announced that it was planning to lay off over 100,000 employees and close down over 20 facilities. The next day its stock value trebled thus making huge profits without any increase in productivity, no new products or innovations, but certainly a great deal of hardship and misery for many decent ordinary people. This happened more than 40 years ago and is not an isolated case. As for Marxism; we cannot yet determine if it is good or bad since it has never been tested in its purest form. Marx would not have recognised Stalins totalitarian USSR as a communist country or any of the others like Moa's China etc. In which the state owned and ran everything. This is quite different to the democratic cooperative based system that Marx advocated.

[@oldcowbb]

Marx's theory actually makes a lot of sense

[@duydangdroid]

Pure information without bad jokes. Please continue this approach CrashCourse.

[@horseydoggygurl]

YOU SAVED MY LIFE I HAVE TO WRITE AN ESSAY ON THIS EXACT TOPIC FOR UNI ALL EVERYTHING I READ WAS SO WRAPPED UP IN JARGON AND VERNACULAR THAT I JUST DIDN'T GET IT :( this cleared up everything especially the definitions such as means/modes/forces of production. thank you crash course

[@francisaguilar1260]

Please keep making these vids. Dont mind the comments. the fact that so many are discussing sociology is a good thing. Its all about perspective and studying sociology is a good way to look at things in a myriad of angles.

[@Raiseflag_Surrender]

Some thoughts to clarify the subject: 1. There is a great difference between marxism theories and marxism-based theories. The intergrated theory of conflict emerged after the Second World War and opposed marxism on many levels. (see to the first video of this course and my comments on it). All other theories such as modern racial-conflict theory and modern gender-conflict theory can be even viewed from the marxist perspective as an attempt of the ruling capitalist class to destroy and disrupt marxism. 2. 'The economy' is not the foundation (or basis) of superstructure. The foundation of superstructure is the answer to 3 questions: 1) 'What kind of level of scientific and technological development did the society reach?' 2) Who has the right of property in the means of production? 3) What is the class structure of society and is there a class struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed classes?' What lies beyond the 3 question does not influence the superstructure but is a part of the superstructure. 3. The contradiction between the forces of production and the relation of production is the inner conflict inside the basis and it leads to the so-called 'revolution in the basis' and the major societal change. 4. Marx described the 3 historical stages of development as formations and the lesser stages inside one of them - the modes of production,. Thus the 3 stages are: primitive communism, the class society and the future communism and the modes of production are within the class society as - slave-owning mode, asiatic (stage-based mode), feudal mode and capitalist mode. Later, however, Marx followers called all modes of production - 'formations'.

[@ghostghastly3898]

Great video comrades 😉 jokes aside this series has been awesome, I'm so glad crash course was willing to cover such a spicy topic. Shout out to the host too!

[@jcaites]

like yatzhee croshaw- just take out all the punctuation and you can cut half the time.

[@KManwarren]

I appreciate these videos so much. They provide very clear explanation. I may not agree with Marxism, but these videos highlight the basic facts in a way that I can fully understand the basics of Marxism, without the noise of someone's agenda being woven throughout. I can clearly consider what I think of the basic facts when I watch this video. Thank you.

[@ben123a9]

I love this video, purely informative with no position taken at all, good job

[@specialknees6798]

Once, in fourth grade, I was in a Popeyes with my family, and I began having a discussion with my dad. I explained to him an idea I had come up with. He didn't say anything about it other than that it would anger many people if it were true. I didn't know why. It wasn't until later that I learned, that what I came up with, had already been invented. The theory behind it was eerily similar to what I said at Popeyes. It was called communism. True story.

[@Drvelasco45]

OMG, this was so well explained. Congratz

[@zaw408]

Oooo we just hit the good stuff. Looking forward to the upcoming episodes!!

[@yj9032]

Marx’s other works are very profound. Like the theory on alienation of labour and his interpretations of Hegel.

[@rafaelgoncalves2879]

I'm having Sociology 101 on college right now and it's matching almost exactly this video series (had Durkheim last week and wil have Marx next tuesday). Thanks because it's helping me a lot.

[@stefanoacquasanta6041]

this episode could actually fit in many others crash courses...the magic of karl marx!

[@kal5211]

If you don't work, you DO go to jail. People experiencing homelessness are arrested regularly for just that.

[@djivaha]

Great video! Maybe should have also mentioned the alienation from products of labor in capitalism

[@everestjarvik5502]

Pretty relevant here in the 2020 economic crisis

[@RavenMeer]

Nicely laid out information. Thank you.

[@elysium619]

Very nice job! Packed full of basic tenets in a very short time but yet adequately explained. Quite a task for such a short video but well done. Will pique the interests of some viewers to delve more deeply into the specifics of ideas discussed here. Vive la Commune!

[@gracesmileyface]

Really enjoyed this video, I'll be looking forward to the next!

[@OdwallaJuice]

Wow, this was... fantastic! I hardly ever see videos about Marx explained so well. Thank you!

[@mortyjames5897]

Marx said that the final stage of human development would be when a communist society had formed. In this society, the means of production and the relations of production would be so advanced that the state would no longer need to exist in order to organise people, and would simply wither away. Therefore, a communist society has never existed, since the USSR, China, Venezuela, etc are/were authoritarian nation states. *(I'm not a communist, for the record)*

[@bruhbruh4329]

If it's never been tried before, how do communists know it works? Ideas that exist only on paper are worthless.

[@slimshady5757]

john zaccone Voluntary sharing and camaraderie were present in the civilizations (such as the Arawaks) that preceded the US. Unfortunately a lot of massive Communist regimes were forcefully implemented, which is why people cannot, should not, and will not trust the State in their wallet. Societies such as the Arawaks were smaller scale than today's United States, anyway. The heterogenous society filled with people who dislike each other based on their choice of lifestyle or unchangeable traits is why I believe a government of, by, and for the people is a fantasy, let alone a Communist utopia. Just because I hope I am wrong does not mean I am wrong.

[@cheddaboyant7817]

because to exist it needs to be manifested all over the earth

[@slimshady5757]

john zaccone You probably knew all of this and will find the perspective interesting enough; I just wanted to post this clarifying comment under posts that made sense.

[@iAmTheSquidThing]

I'd agree that true communism has never been achieved. Though I'd also argue it's impossible and will always turn into a horrible bloodbath. Because a socialist government will inevitably become supremely corrupt. And an anarcho-communist society would go against human nature. I also think it's best to outright dismiss any theory which reckons it has worked out every single social problem on paper. And is certain it knows how to build a utopia, but first needs the current civilisation to be destroyed.

[@JustHarrison]

This is a great video! I'm def gonna have to watch it again lol Thanks for making it!

[@philrobichaud3063]

Great video - love the series, keep up the good work!

[@YellowSub0]

I love these videos. They have definitely helped me study for my sociology exam which is in 10 minutes. Thank you.

[@deletemymind565]

When Marx talks about "crises of overproductio" we always have to remember that he meant that relative - relative to the accumulation of capital, i.e. that there is an overproduction of commodities which can be sold for a (high-enough) profit. Marx was not an underconsumptionist - from him, the falling rate of profit was the main, or to be more precise: underlying, cause of the cyclical crises of capitalism.

[@adrianapignolo]

For 11 minutes this is an amazing explanation, great job!

[@geistundflasche7018]

Very solid introduction! Thx guys!

[@scottstorchfan]

Marx didn’t want to be called a ”philosopher” he wanted to be called a social scientist.

[@courteneycox6259]

the end of my sociology A Level is approaching so these videos are really helping as a refersher from parts of my 2 year course. Also it is great to learn about other parts that weren't covered in the course but that could be applied to my sociology degree at university. always a help CrashCourse!

[@ruoweilim7334]

you know what it's great that the new sociology course seems to be sparking discord; we're all playing into the very core of what sociology is anyway. so keep on battling guys, thanks for proving the point :)

[@RobertoRuizPhilosophyMonkey]

For a ten-minute video, this was a ridiculously good introduction to Marx's ideas! Great job, CrashCourse!!!

[@tobyturner1625]

I’m a mathematician and I thought I’d come here just to learn a little. But I have never been more confused in my life!

[@danielnobrega1009]

There are more comments saying the comment section is gonna be a mess than the actual mess.

[@kshinji]

to be honest, it's very surprising, because the comments section looks as if there were next to people who disagree with Marx, which is not true, seeing as how Marx was definitely not, as the woman implied, the greatest sociologist or whatever, but rather a bubbling buffoon

[@smoage]

This straightforward analysis is rare and refreshing.

[@ThEmWaWaWaWoMaN]

thanks for finally talking about conflict theory at 9:50

[@smileyface702]

I took a class on Marxism this past semester and thought this video was spot on.

[@2ntwins]

Usually it's somewhat painful because crash course is way too oversimplified. This is actually one of the best series on here. She does probably the best anyone can do with ten minutes

[@obidianudokem858]

PLEASE MAKE MORE CRASH COURSE VIDEOS. BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL. I am learn so much. Desipte what everyelse says.

[@Teralek]

Great and educational video. Thank you crash course. Keep up the good work.

[@tylerdipietro4201]

Marxism is perfect. Perfect equality, perfect freedom, kindness, compassion, everyone’s needs being met, people working as much or as little as they want however they want and being happy with where you’re at in life and community.

[@Maconhaepaz]

OMG, it makes total sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll look more into it, and try to understand better this perspective on history/society/economy.

[@dan7478]

Appreciating this series. Thanks!!

[@thomasmiddlebrook9541]

Great summary. I'd love clip on spatial production or theories of place. I think it would be a valuable addition.

[@HarryWilsonTW]

A much better and neutral explanation on Karl Marx's ideas and theories... Certainly better than what Paul Kengor could come up with for his video for Prager "University"

[@Lwy556]

intersectionality theory is going to be an awesome class! can't wait :)

[@SmileyStarz]

Really love how you delivered the content! Looking forward to more videos from this series, since it's the only one I'm following right now :)

[@hafizusmantariq5160]

IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL IF YOU GUYS PROVIDE THE TEXT FILE OF THAT LECTURE TOO, AFTER ALL IN EXAMS WE HAVE TO WRITE THINGS UP, BY HAVING NOTES OF THE LECTURE IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND IT IN DEPTH AND EASILY.

[@helinajeandupa9534]

wow.. thank you so, so much!!!! this video made me understand Marx's historical materialism. again, thank you.

[@paulalancaster1]

Thank you for this very clear explanation of Marx and his conflict theory. I've heard it many times before in many contexts and it always seemed kind of mumbo-jumbo. This lecture was crystal clear with several ah-ha moments of comprehension for me. Thank you. Also, as a member of the "hard sciences", I've always been suspicious of sociology's ambition to be considered a science. This course is very illuminating for me in that regard. I feel grateful for the efforts of all those involved.

[@AbadSebastian]

1. I liked a lot this video, you managed to explain simply a pretty complex author. 2. I heard a lot the word "forces" so I figured i should listen to Killing in the name of till dawn 3. (I really hope this topic is remembered if ever we talk about the Frankfort school)

[@dennisvieira1299]

Don't forget to update the Playlist, I lobe in Brazil and this is such an interesting theme right now

[@SomethingImpromptu]

As a student of a lot of libertarian Marxists (as well as anarchists), I have to say, you broke down historical materialism quite well.

[@oldfashionedmodern]

Not the first time I am exposed to Marxism, but this one is really well explained and it doesn't just simplify topics. Great summary.

[@juangarduno9431]

It is a didactic explanation of a complex (and conflicting) topic. Congratulations

[@bihuahua2600]

I'd love it if you could recommend books for further reading on each subject you talk about. Great episode!

[@itisakubrow6361]

I mean, Marx wrote a few books