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Michael Thielen is Karl Marx double in Trier. He sits in the garden of the Karl Marx House.Photo: Stefanie Preuin © picture alliance / SZ Photo

200 years Karl Marx

Marxist ideas have played a role in film for more than 100 years, since Marx and his ideas are not just to be found in Germany and the world during the bicentennial year 2018. The self-test "How much Marx is in me?" provides facts for your opinion in this anniversary year.

Interview series “In conversation with Banse”

Idea and Editor: Christine Ruhland

 
 

Paula-Irene Villa, sociologist at the LMU Munich Filmstill: pengfilm © Goethe-Institut

In conversation with Banse
 “Marx has a blind spot in his analysis of capitalism”

Sociologist Paula-Irene Villa discusses with Philip Banse about Marx and how he marginalizes activities in the household or bringing up children to nature and does not recognize them as work.

Christina Morina im Gespräch mit Philip Banse Filmstill: pengfilm © Goethe-Institut

In conversation with Banse
 "Marx wouldn't have liked the GDR"

Who circulated Marxist ideas during Marx's lifetime? And what would Marx have thought of the GDR? These and other questions, historian Christina Morina discusses with Philip Banse.

Dramaturg Carl Hegemann in Berlin. Filmstill: pengfilm © Goethe-Institut

In conversation with Banse
 "You can't have salvation with Marx"

Is man able to change himself and society? One of many questions that Philip Banse and dramaturg Carl Hegemann discuss in their conversation.

Stephan Lessenich in the Audimax of the LMU Munich Filmstill: pengfilm © Goethe-Institut

In conversation with Banse
 “We will experience a new form of division”

How will our society and our working life change with digitization? What does Marx say about this and does the unconditional basic income have something to do with it? Sociologist Stephan Lessenich in conversation with Philip Banse.

 

Self-test: How much Marx is in me?

By Tom Strohschneider
Illustration: Tobias Schrank
 





Choose an answer!

Berliners and Marx

Berliner responds to street survey on Marx. Filmstill: © Ula Brunner

street poll
 What does people in Berlin think of Karl Marx?

We asked Berliners what they spontaneously thought of Karl Marx. From shrugging of the shoulders to theoretical explanation, everything was there.

Cultural workers and Marx

Marx-Triptychon Kluge Filmstill: © Alexander Kluge

Video art by Alexander Kluge
 Marx-Triptychon

For Karl Marx's 200th birthday, filmmaker Alexander Kluge has created a video art project: the Marx Triptych.

On the set of “The Young Karl Marx” by Raoul Peck Photo (detail): © picture alliance / Jens Trenkler / dpa

Marxism on Film
 Marxist ideas live on in film

Over the past 120 years, Marxist ideas have undergone frequent revivals on the silver screen.

Karl Marx would have celebrated his 200th birthday in 2018. Photo (detail): Johann Scheibner © dpa

Karl Marx
 Re-reading “Das Kapital”

Karl Marx would have celebrated his 200th birthday in 2018. His criticism of capitalism appears even more pertinent today amidst climate crisis, chronical unemployment and global inequality. A reason for Mathias Greffrath to look back and re-read.

Marx Now on Spotify© Dan Mohr / yesisaid.com / Goethe-Institut e.V.

Playlist Revolutionary Music

The revolution will not be televised, but it will have a soundtrack. This playlist merges American leftist folk classics, contemporary German Marxist songs, and the latest protest music from black Americans and Puerto Ricans. 

 
(from left to right) Karl Marx, Friederich Engels, Vladimir Illich Lenin, Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung Photo (detail): © picture alliance/CPA Media

Interview with Gerd Koenen
 The fading of a political colour

Over time, red has shifted from the colour of power to the colour of revolutionaries. In an interview, publicist Gerd Koenen talks about how red came to symbolise communists and socialists.

Im sächsischen Moritzburg teilt die kilometerlange Allee das Städtchen schnurgerade in zwei Hälften. An ihrem Ende liegt das fast 300 Jahre alte Jagd- und Barockschloss - so macht die Straße ihrem Namen alle Ehre. Bild: Stefanie Preuin © SZ.de

Photo Essay
 “Advance to the Schlossallee”

It's the capitalist game par excellence, in Monopoly whoever has the most streets wins. The most expensive address is Schlossallee. But what is the reality? We visited ten of the 60 or so Schlossalleen in Germany. From the capital to the village. 

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