What's Up With Capitalism? A Marxist Perspective

This is a simple educational video about Marxism. The explanation is (quite literally) a bit of a cartoon, so take it for what it's worth. Hopefully you will get something out of it. Whether or not Karl Marx is right, he started an important conversation that we are still having over a century later.

Further reading:

The pamphlet this video was based on:

On private property:

On different forms of value:

On labor exploitation:

Marxist Revolutionary Theory:

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:18 Owning the Means of Production
1:16 Use-Value and Exchange-Value
3:03 Appropriation of Surplus Value
5:19 Crisis and Revolution
7:35 Closing Thoughts

[knightlypoleaxe]

0:32 okay, the formation of that hammer and sickle was pretty clever.

[chantellehansen]

I learnt more in an 8 minute video than a whole semester at uni!

[RyanBugatti]

When you describe it like that....I feel that the big businesses are creating modern day slaves. Paying you just enough to pay your bills. Greed is the problem....Renters are expendable. We have serious homelessness issue in California. Its gonna get worst...

[ASymbolicSymbol]

"We don't trade for air because it's everywhere"
Nobody:
Capitalist: That sounds like a stupendous idea...

[hchen]

Although my English is poor, I come here specially to say thank you. This video is very useful for me. Actually I never understand all kinds of -ism.For example, the capitalism. I need to learn the basic principles of Marxism because I’m going to take the postgraduate examinations this year. thank you again.I hope nobody will jump out and laugh at my English grammar…

[BalkanOdyssey_]

Incredibly clear explaination, thank you for your work, comrade.

[rvcarrera]

I would like to add subtitles in Spanish. no sure how can I help.

[shamimhussain]

Thank you so much. I found this video helpful in understanding Karl Marx's view on Capitalism. Excellent work!

[rorryrosernk]

I have a test this morning about this topic and I've been studying for weeks in fact months without understanding a single thing but here you are with a simple video and everything become crystal clear.... thank you so much ! 🥰

[BUNG_DARREN]

Hello, i'm from Indonesia and i would like to ask you if i can make this video with Indonesian subtitles and give credit to you, thank you

[justamoteofdust]

Fucking based stuff mate. I'll be linking your video to anyone asking for the basics of Marxism. Also the cartoons are pretty cute. :) Keep up the good work! ✊🏾

[tarheel]

Can you make a video on types of New Economics? Like Doughnut Economics or others.

[justinwatson]

Somehow the algorithm brought me here. I’ve never been so grateful to find a channel. Thanks for doing this work

[principetuna]

I just started the communist manifesto and this video was really helpful!

[AllHaiLKINGTIsHeRe]

Excellent video. I'm really looking forward to other parts.

[vnrkain]

Thank you. An interesting sketch. As someone who has lived in both systems, it seems to me the predominant downfall of both is corruption and greed.

[creeperkinght]

This is an excellent starter for people wanting to consider to understand the ideologies and philosophies of Carl Marx, and delve from it any perspective regardless of what kind of political philosophy they support. It is good to know and understand your own, an opposing, or adjacent perspective with a good clear definition of what it is trying to do, portray, and perceive on society. I feel like this is an excellent way to stir the mind to seek out further knowledge of the matter, even if there are some rebuttals to this ( and their may be rebuttals to those rebuttals, but I'm not sure on that matter personally.)

[ColinPopoviciu]

After watching this video I can say I'm glad marxism is dead and hope will be gone forever :) Capitalism is not perfect but way way better

[caiomh]

workers could take a collective loan to purchase the ways of production and split the profits among themselves (a co-op business). Workers can do that under capitalism.

In some countries you might even use the land and building as collateral for part of the loan to reduce your debt is the business fails.

I wish workers got together to fund co-ops more often to set up an example.

[cheetoz]

This is definitely a quality video that effectively summarizes how a Marxist thinks. We must also understand that it doesn’t fairly depict the capitalist’s view — nor does it claim to, so we don’t have to expect the video to do so. Good to keep all this in mind as we keep learning!