Demystifying economics through small viral study groups could rebuild class consciousness

Evidence

Of particular importance, it seems to me, is a popular demystification of economics and “the economy”. The austerity myth has only seemed credible because of a widespread economic illiteracy — an illiteracy I very much share. Economics functions now much as theology functioned in the Medieval world — as an intricate and elaborate system of concepts, objects and reasoning that is closed to non-initiates. We need something like a Reformation in/and against capitalist economics — the equivalent of the Bible being translated into English. I think this could be done, not by a series of large-scale conferences, televisions, or films — although of course these wouldn’t hurt — but virally. Small groups of people, including at least one individual who is an expert in economics, could get together and talk through some key concepts and principles, major economic events, etc. This could take place in private homes, in universities and colleges, in social clubs… In addition to everything else, this would also serve the function of reviving sociality, of re-building a class consciousness that has been dissipated by the individualising tendencies of neoliberalism and communicative capitalism. — Mark Fisher (edited by Darren Ambrose), K-Punk, 1813

Categorization

• SEED: The proposal that economics functions like medieval theology and needs a ‘Reformation’ with economics translated ‘into English’ is a strong essay angle.
• STORYSTEM: A story could follow a small group of neighbours running an economics reading circle in a private home as an act of quiet resistance.
• XREF: connects to: Common sense can be worked upon to transform it into conscious class struggle; The dominant theory treats cultural change as random viral contagion — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 16

Broader Connections

• Common sense can be worked upon to transform it into conscious class struggle #expands (0.82)
• The dominant theory treats cultural change as random viral contagion #contradicts (0.78) — W. David Marx, Status and Culture, 16