Abstract
Scholars have postulated that commodity fetishism represents Marx’s theory of capitalist materiality, but the content of that theory is contested. I offer an archaeology of Marx’s material world in order to understand the development of the concept. During his time in London, Marx wrote and published Capital: A Critique of Political Economy (1867), in which he outlined the concept of commodity fetishism. I demonstrate that he formed his analysis of commodity fetishism from daily practices including shopping, and consuming tobacco, in combination with his research at the British Museum. I take an experiential approach to archaeology that foregrounds Marx living in a world of objects, and posit a relationship between his experiences and his understanding of commodities. In so doing, I show how Marx’s “everyday life” shaped his concept of commodity fetishism, and how this concept could be useful to historical archaeologists.
Resumen
Los eruditos han postulado que el fetichismo de la mercancía representa la teoría marxista del materialismo capitalista, pero se cuestiona el contenido de esa teoría. En este trabajo, ofrezco un estudio arqueológico del mundo material de Marx para entender el desarrollo del concepto. Durante su estancia en Londres, Marx escribió y publicó El Capital: crítica de la economía política (1867), en el que resalta el concepto del fetichismo de la mercancía. Demuestro que elaboró su análisis del fetichismo de la mercancía a partir de prácticas diarias como las compras o el consumo de tabaco, en combinación con sus investigaciones en el Museo Británico. Adopto un enfoque experimental ante la arqueología que retrata a Marx viviendo en un mundo de objetos y planteo una relación entre sus experiencias y su comprensión de los productos. Con ello, demuestro que la vida diaria de Marx formó su concepto de fetichismo de la mercancía y cómo este concepto puede ser útil para los arqueólogos históricos.
Résumé
Les universitaires posent le postulat selon lequel le fétichisme de la marchandise représente la théorie du capitalisme de Marx. Je propose une étude archéologique du monde matériel de Marx dans le but de comprendre le développement de ce concept. Marx écrivit et publia Le Capital alors qu’il était à Londres. Il présente le concept du fétichisme de la marchandise Dans Critique de l’économie politique (1867). Je démontre qu’il a développé cette analyse du fétichisme de la marchandise à partir des expériences de la vie quotidienne, y compris le fait de faire des achats ou de consommer du tabac, en association avec ses recherches menées au British Museum. J’adopte une démarche empirique de l’archéologie qui met au premier plan le vécu de Marx dans un monde d’objets, et qui pose le principe d’une relation entre ses expériences et la compréhension qu’il se fait de la marchandise. Ce faisant, je démontre comment la vie quotidienne de Marx a forgé le concept du fétichisme de la marchandise et comment ce concept pourrait être utile aux archéologues historiques.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a European Studies Grant from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Thanks to the staff at the British Museum Archives, the British Library, and the British National Archives. My MA committee of Bob Paynter, David Samuels, Michael Sugerman, and Betsy Krause helped get this research off the ground, and also helped bring it back to Earth again. Thanks to Pam, Ken, and Conner Lewis for support on multiple fronts. I have benefited greatly from the advice and consultation of Enoch Page, Paul Mullins, Jackie Urla, and Chris Tilley, and from the camaraderie and editorial help of Zach Du Bois, Carla Hammar, Ge (Gladys) Jian, Milena Marchesi, Tom Rushford, Flavia Stanley, and Angelina Zontine. Thanks, finally, to Alanna.
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Lewis, Q. Shopping with Karl: Commodity Fetishism and the Materiality of Marx’s London. Arch 6, 150–166 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-010-9124-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-010-9124-x