Marxism

February 19, 2018
Woodfin (Introducing Aristotle) and Eisner-winning artist Zarate (A Small Killing) update their history of Marxism originally published in 2005 for the present context of international upheaval, adding in, for instance, depictions of Trump when describing the manipulation of the mass media for political ends. Woodfin’s text launches with an examination of the life and work of Karl Marx and his associate Friedrich Engels. Their Communist Manifesto, written in 1848, became a benchmark of political philosophy, “as influential as the American Declaration of Independence (1776) and the French Declaration of Rights (1789).” Zarate’s skillfully rendered, brushy drawings, often blended with collages of found art, ably support Woodfin’s explorations of the various permutations of Marx’s teachings. The comics illuminate the intricacies and fluidity of political philosophy, showing how Marx’s ideology, originally forged to benefit the lower laboring classes, also provided the framework for the human rights abuses under Stalin’s communist dictatorship, as well as for the intellectually rigorous Frankfurt School of critical theory. This graphic guide is a testament to the effective use of comics to present complex information in an accessible format, and is well-suited for students, educators, and any reader looking to better understand the relationship of Marxism to current global politics.