Peace between peoples, war on billionaires! Today, ‘civilised’ Europe is arming itself to the teeth. Instead of the pleasant promises of peace, progress and well-being with which they usually lull our consciences to sleep, the perspective they offer us is one of war, destruction and suffering. As in the dramas of ancient Greece, the cheerful face of Thalia gives way to the stern countenance of Melpomene: tragedy is called to the stage. Be that as it may, we prefer that the true face of capitalism is exposed, instead of its mask.
Lenin, communism and the emancipation of women Most of the world’s women today are very far from achieving equality, let alone liberation. The wage gap between men and women is one thing, but inequality and oppression are about so much more than that. From the fear of leaving our drinks unattended when we are on a night out; to the anxiety of walking home alone, having to put up with constant sexist comments and stares; to doing the majority of housework; to doctors not taking ‘women’s diseases’ seriously and generally being treated as of lesser worth, the list goes on and on…
A muse of fire: art, society and revolution Art has accompanied us throughout the history of our species. And while it has its own laws of development, the history of art also reflects the fundamental, revolutionary changes that have shaped human society. In this article, Alan Woods examines some of the great revolutions in art and society, and the role of art in the emancipation of the working class.
