Cultural criticism that embraces universal commodification becomes indistinguishable from commodity fetishism

Evidence

This is the imperial geography not of the colonial period but of late capitalism: commodity acquires universality, and a universal market arises across national frontiers and local customs, while white trade rejoins black trade. When cultural criticism reaches this point of convergence with the universal market, one might add, it becomes indistinguishable from commodity fetishism. — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 917

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Suffered alienation becomes a profitable commodity in the cultural marketplace — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 71; Culture means suspending objectification, yet criticism re-objectifies what it studies; Capitalist commodification displaces the aesthetic value of art — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism: A Critique of…, 69 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The image of uninhibited vitality itself recycles commodity fetishism #exemplifies (0.78)
• Culture means suspending objectification, yet criticism re-objectifies what it studies #qualifies (0.75)
• Capitalist commodification displaces the aesthetic value of art #expands (0.72) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 69
• Debord theorized spectacle as commodity fetishism’s absolute fulfillment #expands (0.72) — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism, 549