The first part of class was a review of what we’ve learned on cultural mixing; that while the races in America were politically segregated, their cultures (specifically music) were constantly becoming intertwined and co-influenced. The example used was Thomas Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey, two musicians with the same name. The former was black and the latter was white, but they were both aware of each other and had a separate impact.

Then the class took a sharp turn and we discussed different aspects of Marxism. Quote, “Labor has been rendered irrelevant.” As craftsman have become obsolete and production of goods We talked about the labor theory of value, a wholly incorrect economic theory. And then we jumped into Marxist “false consciousness,” the idea that if you’re not a Marxist you’re just brainwashed by the class structure! It was an easy way for academics to try to grasp why the working man didn’t like their disdainful gaze.