Marxist Criticism · English Literature

What is 'Commodity Fetishism' in a Marxist literary context?

  1. The obsession characters develop with luxury goods and high-fashion items
  2. The tendency to perceive social relationships as objective relations between things
  3. The belief that literary works are the most culturally valuable objects in society
  4. A psychological compulsion triggered by repeated exposure to consumer advertising
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: The tendency to perceive social relationships as objective relations between things

Marx used this term to describe how the labor and social struggle behind a product are hidden once it becomes a 'commodity.' In literature, this might be seen when the origins of wealth or the conditions of the poor are erased or aestheticized.

Difficulty: Medium Question 4 of 20

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