A new exploration into the relevance of Karl Marx's ideas for understanding…
Marx for Beginners

- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
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How many people have actually read the work of Karl Marx? Based on the book by the Mexican cartoonist Rius, MARX FOR BEGINNERS is a hilarious animated film that highlights Marx's most influential ideas, and places them into the context of western civilization by introducing Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, da Vinci, Copernicus, Galileo, and Descartes. All in seven minutes!
High school and college audiences will find the film an amusing introduction and discussion starter on Marx's work, while non-academic audiences of all ages will be entertained by the lively and irreverent treatment of one of the world's most important thinkers.
'This stylistically animated condensation of rambunctious and irreverent quotation and paraphrasing of important historical thinkers [is] stimulating and amusing... An engaging treat!'-Booklist
'Enjoyable. Excellent script and treatment, good satire.'-EFLA Evaluations
Citation
Main credits
Godfrey, Bob (Director)
Godfrey, Bob (Animator)
Attew, Kevin (Animator)
Morton, Clive (Animator)
Parker-Rhodes, Marcus (Animator)
Hawksworth, Johnny (mus)
Other credits
Made by Kevin Attew, Clive Morton, Bob Godfrey, Marcus Parker-Rhodes, et al.; music, Johnny Hawksworth.
Distributor subjects
Animated Films; Historiography; History (World); Marxism; Philosophy; Russia; SociologyKeywords
1
00:00:03,235 --> 00:00:05,835
What, try to summarize Marx?
2
00:00:05,969 --> 00:00:09,334
That's not only a sacrilege,
but a complete waste of time.
3
00:00:09,467 --> 00:00:10,535
Oh!
4
00:00:10,668 --> 00:00:13,235
Because Comrade Karl
is supposed to be
5
00:00:13,368 --> 00:00:17,435
completely beyond the range
of simple minds.
6
00:00:17,568 --> 00:00:20,868
And here we have a simple mind,
a caveman.
7
00:00:21,001 --> 00:00:22,201
♪♪
8
00:00:22,335 --> 00:00:24,268
(lightning crashes)
9
00:00:24,401 --> 00:00:25,868
Being totally ignorant,
10
00:00:26,001 --> 00:00:27,734
he's frightened of everything.
11
00:00:27,868 --> 00:00:28,834
♪♪
12
00:00:28,968 --> 00:00:33,767
(dinosaur roaring)
13
00:00:33,901 --> 00:00:36,401
♪♪
14
00:00:36,535 --> 00:00:38,735
This is an Egyptian priest.
15
00:00:38,869 --> 00:00:41,435
He claims to understand
the working of the elements
16
00:00:41,568 --> 00:00:43,601
and that they are controlled
by spirits.
17
00:00:43,734 --> 00:00:45,235
I know more than you.
18
00:00:45,368 --> 00:00:46,901
That makes me upper class.
19
00:00:47,034 --> 00:00:49,034
-And me?
-Working class.
20
00:00:49,168 --> 00:00:50,601
So, work.
21
00:00:50,734 --> 00:00:52,101
What about me?
22
00:00:52,235 --> 00:00:53,335
You're a woman.
23
00:00:53,468 --> 00:00:55,101
Get back to the kitchen.
24
00:00:55,235 --> 00:01:04,901
♪♪
25
00:01:05,034 --> 00:01:06,335
I don't need a priest.
26
00:01:06,468 --> 00:01:07,734
I need a philosopher.
27
00:01:07,868 --> 00:01:09,468
If oxen could draw,
28
00:01:09,602 --> 00:01:12,868
they would draw pictures
of gods that look like oxen.
29
00:01:13,001 --> 00:01:14,268
Heretic!
30
00:01:14,401 --> 00:01:17,667
What is the force that keeps
the universe in motion?
31
00:01:17,801 --> 00:01:19,134
Atheist!
32
00:01:19,268 --> 00:01:20,935
(grunts)
33
00:01:21,069 --> 00:01:24,401
Life is the result of a perfect
mathematical relationship
34
00:01:24,535 --> 00:01:26,235
between parts of the body.
35
00:01:26,368 --> 00:01:29,934
Ooh, you pervert!
36
00:01:30,068 --> 00:01:32,768
What about me?
37
00:01:32,902 --> 00:01:36,335
Well, speaking as
the father of dialectics,
38
00:01:36,468 --> 00:01:38,834
that is the art of argument,
39
00:01:38,968 --> 00:01:39,834
I say--
40
00:01:39,968 --> 00:01:42,068
Cantankerous old fart!
41
00:01:42,201 --> 00:01:43,568
Kill him!
42
00:01:43,702 --> 00:01:45,135
Don't worry about this world.
43
00:01:45,269 --> 00:01:48,101
There's a better one
coming along in the next life.
44
00:01:48,235 --> 00:01:49,702
Hey, that's better.
45
00:01:49,835 --> 00:01:51,435
That's a load of rubbish,
mister.
46
00:01:51,568 --> 00:01:53,101
Seeing is believing.
47
00:01:53,235 --> 00:01:54,601
Does that mean I get a raise?
48
00:01:54,734 --> 00:01:55,868
Not a chance.
49
00:01:56,001 --> 00:01:57,568
You're still a slave.
50
00:01:57,702 --> 00:02:01,634
But never fear,
here comes a whole new age.
51
00:02:01,767 --> 00:02:03,235
The Age of Faith.
52
00:02:03,368 --> 00:02:05,301
(religious chanting)
53
00:02:05,435 --> 00:02:07,535
This is the Age of Faith,
54
00:02:07,668 --> 00:02:09,968
and nobody can believe anything
55
00:02:10,101 --> 00:02:11,567
unless I say so.
56
00:02:11,701 --> 00:02:12,767
Great.
57
00:02:12,901 --> 00:02:13,934
I believe.
58
00:02:14,068 --> 00:02:16,001
I believe, uh,
59
00:02:16,134 --> 00:02:17,268
what about a raise?
60
00:02:17,401 --> 00:02:18,734
Shut up, you stupid servant.
61
00:02:18,868 --> 00:02:19,768
Get back to work.
62
00:02:19,902 --> 00:02:21,535
There will be
no more philosophers
63
00:02:21,668 --> 00:02:23,301
until the Renaissance.
64
00:02:23,435 --> 00:02:24,834
What about me?
65
00:02:24,968 --> 00:02:26,268
Shut up, woman.
66
00:02:26,401 --> 00:02:28,068
And what about me?
67
00:02:28,201 --> 00:02:29,801
It's illegal.
68
00:02:29,934 --> 00:02:31,235
Come to jail.
69
00:02:31,368 --> 00:02:32,501
(snickering)
70
00:02:32,634 --> 00:02:33,601
♪♪
71
00:02:33,734 --> 00:02:34,934
The Renaissance,
72
00:02:35,068 --> 00:02:37,201
and Machiavelli noticed
that the church
73
00:02:37,335 --> 00:02:40,168
had appropriated God
for its own ends.
74
00:02:40,301 --> 00:02:41,935
Bacon was wondering why it was
75
00:02:42,069 --> 00:02:44,034
that the countries
with the most nobles
76
00:02:44,168 --> 00:02:46,134
also had the most misery.
77
00:02:46,268 --> 00:02:49,168
Da Vinci was drawing
dirty scientific pictures
78
00:02:49,301 --> 00:02:50,635
in perspective.
79
00:02:50,768 --> 00:02:53,301
Copernicus spotted
that the world was round,
80
00:02:53,435 --> 00:02:56,468
and Galileo worked out
that it went 'round the sun.
81
00:02:56,602 --> 00:02:59,268
Descartes was thinking,
therefore he was.
82
00:02:59,401 --> 00:03:01,134
Oh, mamma mia.
83
00:03:01,268 --> 00:03:03,968
Isn't anyone going to burn
this lot for me?
84
00:03:04,101 --> 00:03:05,235
(slicing)
85
00:03:05,368 --> 00:03:07,901
♪♪
86
00:03:08,034 --> 00:03:10,601
Liberté,
87
00:03:10,734 --> 00:03:13,601
égalité,
88
00:03:13,734 --> 00:03:15,201
fraternité.
89
00:03:15,335 --> 00:03:19,602
Voilàà, that got rid
of us ruling aristocrats.
90
00:03:19,735 --> 00:03:21,568
Now can I have a raise please?
91
00:03:21,702 --> 00:03:24,468
À regret, not just now.
92
00:03:24,602 --> 00:03:27,134
But you can always find
another job
93
00:03:27,268 --> 00:03:28,601
if you're not happy.
94
00:03:28,734 --> 00:03:30,567
The liberty to starve?
95
00:03:30,701 --> 00:03:31,667
Great.
96
00:03:31,801 --> 00:03:32,934
What's needed here
97
00:03:33,068 --> 00:03:36,168
is another one
of them philosophers.
98
00:03:36,301 --> 00:03:37,934
What's the problem, son?
99
00:03:38,068 --> 00:03:39,801
Weren't you watching the film?
100
00:03:39,934 --> 00:03:41,368
Oh, that, yes.
101
00:03:41,502 --> 00:03:44,201
Well, the eternal struggle
between the classes
102
00:03:44,335 --> 00:03:45,735
had led to progress,
103
00:03:45,869 --> 00:03:48,335
but the working man
is never any better off.
104
00:03:48,468 --> 00:03:51,602
This wonderful Age of Reason
has brought in a new
105
00:03:51,735 --> 00:03:54,901
and even larger upper class
for you to support:
106
00:03:55,034 --> 00:03:57,400
the capitalist bourgeoisie.
107
00:03:57,534 --> 00:03:59,201
Uh, what?
108
00:03:59,335 --> 00:04:02,268
Your problem is now
an economic one.
109
00:04:02,401 --> 00:04:04,235
Problems? Problems?
110
00:04:04,368 --> 00:04:06,101
Now, who's got problems?
111
00:04:06,235 --> 00:04:07,901
Me, I've got a problem.
112
00:04:08,034 --> 00:04:08,968
I'm broke.
113
00:04:09,101 --> 00:04:10,335
No problem, lad.
114
00:04:10,468 --> 00:04:11,667
Sell something.
115
00:04:11,801 --> 00:04:12,701
Sell?
116
00:04:12,834 --> 00:04:14,034
Are you stupid?
117
00:04:14,168 --> 00:04:16,701
-Sell what?
-A little of your time, lad.
118
00:04:16,834 --> 00:04:18,567
Come and work for me.
119
00:04:18,701 --> 00:04:19,835
How much time?
120
00:04:19,969 --> 00:04:22,235
Well, how long
were you thinking of living?
121
00:04:22,368 --> 00:04:24,835
I will pay you money,
and all you have to do
122
00:04:24,969 --> 00:04:28,268
is produce commodities
in my factories.
123
00:04:28,401 --> 00:04:30,034
Yeah, yeah.
124
00:04:30,168 --> 00:04:31,668
♪♪
125
00:04:31,802 --> 00:04:34,901
Lots of lovely money
to spend on, uh,
126
00:04:35,034 --> 00:04:36,101
commodities.
127
00:04:36,235 --> 00:04:38,435
Have a commodity, old chap.
128
00:04:38,568 --> 00:04:40,134
Don't mind if I do.
129
00:04:40,268 --> 00:04:43,001
Hang about,
if you pay for labor,
130
00:04:43,134 --> 00:04:45,568
and I pay you for goods,
131
00:04:45,702 --> 00:04:47,635
why are you so much richer
than me?
132
00:04:47,768 --> 00:04:49,968
A capitalist
has to have capital, you know,
133
00:04:50,101 --> 00:04:52,734
to build factories
for you to work in.
134
00:04:52,868 --> 00:04:54,602
It doesn't belong to me,
135
00:04:54,735 --> 00:04:56,702
little working-class scum.
136
00:04:56,835 --> 00:04:59,468
It belongs to the wonderful
company we all serve
137
00:04:59,602 --> 00:05:01,802
as one big happy family.
138
00:05:01,935 --> 00:05:04,568
Ask him where
the profit comes from.
139
00:05:04,702 --> 00:05:06,667
Where's the profit come from,
squire?
140
00:05:06,801 --> 00:05:08,367
It comes from God.
141
00:05:08,501 --> 00:05:09,568
Profit?
142
00:05:09,702 --> 00:05:12,001
Yes, well,
we have to make these savings
143
00:05:12,134 --> 00:05:13,034
where we can.
144
00:05:13,168 --> 00:05:14,134
Have one of these.
145
00:05:14,268 --> 00:05:15,702
Ta very much, guv.
146
00:05:15,835 --> 00:05:18,934
The profit comes
from unpaid labor, dummy.
147
00:05:19,068 --> 00:05:20,602
It only takes half your time
148
00:05:20,735 --> 00:05:22,802
to produce enough
to pay your wages.
149
00:05:22,935 --> 00:05:25,068
The rest of the time
you're working for nothing,
150
00:05:25,201 --> 00:05:27,468
to produce profit
for the bosses.
151
00:05:27,602 --> 00:05:29,101
You're right, brother.
152
00:05:29,235 --> 00:05:38,301
♪♪
153
00:05:38,435 --> 00:05:40,667
What about me then?
154
00:05:40,801 --> 00:06:14,869
♪♪
155
00:06:15,002 --> 00:06:18,068
Oi, I haven't said anything
about dialectical materialism.
156
00:06:18,201 --> 00:06:19,068
Stop, wait!
157
00:06:19,201 --> 00:06:21,034
I had a fascinating sex life.
158
00:06:21,168 --> 00:06:22,667
And what about--
Distributor: Icarus Films
Length: 6 minutes
Date: 1978
Genre: Animation
Language: English
Grade: 9-12, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
Interactive Transcript: Available
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