A Marxism Analysis of Different Social Classes in A Dance Film: “Step Up Revolution”

Abstract

Analyzing Step Up Revolution by Scott Speer, this academic paper draws on Marxism theory, paying particular attention to the work of Karl Marx about false consciousness, Anthonio Gramsci‘s ideas about hegemony; and also Althusser‘s claims of ideology to analyze the different social classes and their effects to the lower classes. Marxism is an economic theory with a goal to bring about a classless societyand focus on material aspect. This journal article will look for the answers of thesetwo pivotal questions: how do the upper classes treat the lower classes in a dance film,Step Up Revolution; and how does Marxism look at that treatment? The findings cover two pivotal points: that the bourgeoisie people become the one who control the world‘s natural, economic, and human resources and are seen as the superior; whereas Spring Garden‘s citizens, the proletariat, live in substandard conditions under the ruling of their powerful controller, seen as the inferior and always perform the manual labor with no choice. Applying a Marxism lens to this literary work will make readersthink that whether they‘re aware of it or not, conflict, which is caused by different social classes, will always exist in our society as long as we live.