Joyce Tinsman Intro to Sociological Theory Dr.

Matthews

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George Carlin Uses His Anarchist Views on Modern American Society and Its Institutions Effectively Illustrating Marxs Social Conflict Theory. George Carlin was one of Americas most talented and courageous artists of the century. He started doing stand-up comedy in the early 60s during a time of crisis and civil disobedience. Carlin used his talent for making people laugh as a way of becoming a social commentator, a radical, and an anarchist. Carlins main focus in his routines was providing a forum for highlighting Americas idiosyncrasies and social issues in a way that Americans could laugh at their own inability to change their situation. He used political and social issues as the focus of much of his comedy, effectively highlighting illogical human theory concerning some of the most basic truths in life. Carlins anarchist views gave a rise to his scathing explanation of the American eccentricities pertaining to human societies and their economic, political, and moral tribulations. Marxs cConflict theory offers the lens through which Carlin views the enmity between the rich and the poor. Conflict theorists, such as Marx, would argue that property is the critical element of capitalists. Thus, struggles over property become political struggles and material conditions enable one group to proliferate their views to others in society. This exploitation is what allows the bourgeoisie to dominate and impose their ideologies on the proletariats of the world. For Marx, this conflict arises because capitalists exploit workers for their labor and do not allocate compensation of their labor equally, pocketing most of the profits to increase their own wealth and maintain the conditions that perpetuate the status quo. The only demand that property recognizes is its own greater wealth, privileges, and power. Power is an aphrodisiac
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that subdues, degrades, enslave, demoralizes, and emasculate the spirit of the masses. Carlin demonstrates his use of anarchism and conflict based views on his 1988 album, What AM I Doing in New Jersey? which preaches against the consolidation of wealth and power. Carlin states, "The real owners are the big wealthy business interests that control things and make all the important decisions. Forget the politicians, they're an irrelevancy. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They've long since bought and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the statehouses, the city halls. They've got the judges in their back pockets. And they own all the big media companies, so that they control just about all of the news and information you hear. They've got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying lobbying to get what they want. Well, we know what they want; they want more for themselves and less for everybody else". Carlin continued to illustrate Marxs views on the ideologies of the bourgeoisie by stating, "But I'll tell you what they don't want," "They don't want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don't want well-informed, well-educated people capable of critical thinking. They're not interested in that. That doesn't help them. That's against their interests You know what they want? Obedient workers people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork but just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, reduced benefits, the end of overtime and the vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it It's a big club, and you ain't in it. You and I are not in the big club." (Carlin, 1988) Carlin continues to remain loyal to his beliefs through a half century of societal, political, and economic changes. He shows no sympathy for any political party and uses brutal realism to analyze modern American societys disintegration into absurdity and moral perplexity. Carlin illuminates Americas arrogance during his sketch, Saving the Planet, he comments on the bourgeoisie who righteously exclaim their altruism for the planet while continuing to exploit our
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society environmentally so they can be morally condescending to others.(Carlin, 1992) In a television interview with Bill Maher, George Carlin discusses President George W. Bush, the real looting of this country takes place in the transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor. The rich have been made richer and the poor have been made poorer under this criminal fascist President and his government. All of this back and forth debate implies that there are really choices in this country. That we really have choices. Freedom of choice. Its an illusion let me say one thing about choice. There is no real choice. They say freedom of choice. Youre given an illusion of choice. Americans are meant to feel free by the exercise of meaningless choices you know what the choices are in this country? Paper or plastic. Aisle or window. Smoking or non-smoking. Those are your real choices. You dont get to choose anything in this country.(Carlin, 2005) This quote exhibits Carlins belief that we have no real rights in our American society. We are ruled by those that make the decisions and keep us in a state of oppression fueled by ignorance of our own condition. Carlin points out that raising the educational levels for the subjugated would not be an incentive for the elite, because furthering education should only exist to increase understanding of the instructions that they have been given by the elite. He states, Were only supposed to be smart enough to slave for them, not too smart, so that we run the risk of becoming critical thinkers.(Carlin, 2005) Throw in some Marx & false consciousness right here. Anarchisms goal is the freest possible expression of all the suppressed powers of the individual. Oscar Wilde defines a perfect personality as one who develops under perfect conditions, who is not wounded, maimed, or in danger.(Wilde, 2004) A perfect persona then can only be found in a society that offers true freedom of choice; recognizing the rights of the individual only as a means to itself. Carlin continues throughout his career to reiterate his belief that Americans live self-centered lives totally oblivious to their continued perpetuation of their own repression by continuing the cycle of obedience. It's an angry and provocative fist in the face of public democracy and its foundation that rests on individualism: we don't vote for what's
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best for the country as a whole, we vote for what we believe will benefit us individually.(Carlin, 2005) responds Carlin. He exposes our belief that we actually have a free choice which is determined by our own will. Anarchism offers social order based on individuals free access to the earths resources and the human factors of individual desires and circumstances. Source? Carlins style of comedy highlights the injustices man has perpetuated upon other members of society in the name of progress. Social conflict construction is an omnipresent institution that at its very root is generated from the quest for wealth, power, and greed. Marx viewed the exploitive economic arrangements of capitalism as the means from which all persecution evolves. Carlin exposes modern American society to his brutally scathing depiction of the appalling dehumanization of the individual. In reality, individuals do not unilaterally decide to revolt against society. They try to find a more conceivable method of change. Individuals can and do undertake personal battles every day. They choose to purchase environmentally friendly products, they consider alternate choices when deciding on community leadership, and they unite over issues that are detrimental to the continuation of their individual needs. Even though Carlin uses humor as his mode of enlightenment, he does not demean our intelligence by treating us as if we were ignorant. He bases his comedy on the fact that we have the knowledge to make changes to our society, but we are just too lazy and comfortable in our arrogance to care one way or the other. He highlights our realities, while offering scathing rhetorical commentary of societys complacency. George Carlin was a master at incorporating the basic class struggles which were the premise of Marxs cConflict tTheory. By recognizing that societal conditions continue to oppress the proletariat class of people, he communicates a cynical and sometimes brutal reality surrounding the social situations and institutions in modern America. The wealth of the top 10% of the people has risen to an astonishing 50% of all of the wealth in the United States, while the lowest 10% of the population of the United States receives only 3.7% of the wealth. (Source?)
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Americas growing disparity of wealth affords Carlin a wide variety of material to integrate into his comedy routines. Our country continues to bemoan its fate, while not wanting to inconvenience ourselves in order to demand a change. The bourgeoisie in America have made us complacent about ourselves, our neighbors, our institutions, our politics, and our earth. Even though Carlins views were based in anarchy, he had the courage and understanding to stand up and be an advocate for those that are too lazy, too uneducated, or to oppressed to rebel against the system themselves. I just want you to know that I am laughing & scratching my head at the same time. Where the hell is this, Im not a great writer. And I dont know as much as the other students. Stuff coming from?! This is an excellent analysis! My only criticism is that you have a couple of places in which you did not cite your sources. Why dont you seriously consider submitting an abstract for that conference on radicalism? I think with some beefing up this would be a great paper to present. 27 of 30

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Bibliography Carlin, George , Karren Armstrong, and David Attenborough. "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher." By George Carlin. Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. ABC. n.p., 23 June 2005. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V510t0ecluY>. "Jammin in New York." By George Carlin. The Planet is Fine. HBO. n.p., 24 Apr. 1992. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScDfYzMEEw>. "What Am I Doing in New Jersey." By George Carlin. What Am I Doing in New Jersey. NBC. n.p., 9 June 1988. Web. 10 Oct. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDs9rQRx0DI>. Wilde, Oscar. The Soul Of Man Under Socialism. Grand Rapids: Kessinger, 2004. Print.

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