Decentring Capitalism through Pedagogy: Bolshevism to Ballet in Three Steps

Abstract

This paper outlines an approach to teaching business school undergraduates about fundamental change in the distribution of power, or revolution under capitalism. This is based on a comparative analysis of three film extracts from: Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925) and Strike (1925); and Billy Elliot (2000). Similarities and contrasts across these extracts can help students appreciate different theoretical perspectives on power and collective resistance to capitalism. These extracts introduce undergraduates to a central distinction in critique of capitalism - between a Marxist account of revolution (class consciousness is sufficient for successful revolution), and a Marxist-Leninist account (revolutions must be led). Following a well established tradition of connecting Marx's ideas to Aristotle, the paper outlines how this approach is underpinned by a theory of aesthetic engagement based on Aristotle’s intellectual virtues, or different ways of knowing. Comparative analysis of these films is proposed as a way to overcome two barriers to learning about these fundamental ideas in social science: the institutionalized, managerialist logic of business schools under capitalism; and the lack of experience of collectivism among business school undergraduates.