Pouliuli and Marxism

1
Pouliuli and Marxism

• Ideology becomes the key word in Marxist literary
  criticism.
• Ideology can be used in a number of non-Marxist
  ways
• As a derogatory terms for political beliefs and
  action
• Ways of thinking/acting of a particular
  group-cultural/gender/age

2
Pouliuli and Marxism

• Ideology in the strict Marxist sense and as a
  basis for literary criticism is defined along
  the following lines
• Ideology dominant in any era is product of its
  economic structure and resulting class-relations
  and class-interest.
• Marx presented ideology as the superstructure and
  the contemporary socioeconomic system is the
  base.

3
Pouliuli and Marxism
Ideology thus exists as an abstraction/illusion
or as Engels calls it False Consciousness as a
guiding principle but brings with it the material
realizations or scientific knowledge of
economic determinants, historical evolution and
the present state of the world. In the
capitalist statethe dominant and exploitative
class are the bourgeoisie owners of the
material means of production and distributions.
The proletatariat are the wage earning
working class.
4
Pouliuli and Marxism
In the communal setup as in Pouliuli we can the
two classes are represented not only by
businessmen in Apia, but politicians at various
levels, the Matais as they control land, capital
and labor. The unranked or commoners are the
proletariat with limited social and economic
mobility in the traditional systems In Pouliuli
the power struggles are not only between the two
groups but even more so among themselvesespeciall
y in the case of Faleasa and his manipulations.
5
Pouliuli and Marxism
Ideology is seen as the natural way of lifeas
inevitable and to be accepted. For Marxism this
is seen as one of the instruments of powerit
legitimizes and maintains the position, power,
and economic interests of the ruling class.
Bourgeois ideology is seen as producing and
greatly influencing/controlling the practices in
most of the social and cultural practices and
institutions. Including religion/philiosophy,
politics, the legal system and in many ways arts
and literature.
6
Pouliuli and Marxism
We can relate this to the various eras of
ideology in Pouliuli Mythic Pilis quest for
mortality and victory/unification of Samoa leads
to formulation of origins of Fasamoa of the
Ideology of the Samoan way of life. In its
ideal form it is non-ideological in the Marxist
sense as it is based on unity of movement and
non-materialism. In practice Ideology comes into
play as conflict arise due to material
considerationsof not only goods...but also of
power and authority. Historical Christianity
as Ideological in the Marxist sense in a double
role. Materialism of religions-rites / rituals /
tithes / clothes / ceremonies/bible/books
7
Pouliuli and Marxism
Base of the Ideology in colonialism-Introduction
of labour/wage/capital/administrative units
creation of the division between the
dominant/ruling class of capital/communal
leaders/politicians over the commoners. World
Wars Changes and shifts in players but the
game/field remains the same. Changes in
politics/international relations play their own
role in shifting around the dominance of groups,
but not towards ideals of a society where
everything is shared equally/ as in ideas of
Communism/Communal way of FaaSamoa. Present
Political manipulations based on material
considerations, quest for power, authority,
control over resources/money. Falease/Malaga/Moaul
a/Elefene/Felefele.