{"id":457,"date":"2025-06-01T17:35:38","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T17:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-introduction-to-american-government-artinian\/?page_id=457"},"modified":"2025-06-01T17:35:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-01T17:35:41","slug":"module-5-social-class-part-2-9-21-9-27","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/module-5-social-class-part-2-9-21-9-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Module 5 &#8211; Social Class, part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lesson 5.1 &#8211; Social class: value, labor, capital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this lesson, we continue our study of social class by focusing in greater detail on key aspects of social class: value, means of production, factors of production, commodity, money, surplus value, profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WATCH &#8211; Intro Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"POL 100 (OL) - Intro to Module 5\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ryLdwdh2Y3g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WATCH &#8211; Video 5.1 &#8211; Labor and Class Conflict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch this video by focusing on what makes class conflict, struggle, a constant feature of our politics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Marx Part 1: Labour &amp; Class Conflict | Philosophy Tube\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CWF_0lkBhjY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COMPLETE &#8211; Self-assessment exercise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\">In preparation for our discussion board, take the following practice quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/module-5-self-assessment-1\/\">Click to complete Self-Assessment Quiz 5.1<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WRITE &#8211; Discussion Board 5.1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-background\">Head over to Discussion Board 5.1 for a discussion of labor and class: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/2025\/06\/01\/discussion-board-5-1\/\">Click to go to Discussion Board 5.1<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WATCH &#8211; Video 5.2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"POL 100 (OL) - Intro to Reading 5.2\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kNYIsW2ZiKk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ &#8211; Reading 5.1 &#8211; Pierre Jalee: &#8220;Labor Power and Surplus Value&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This reading is the most challenging, but also the most rewarding\/important in our two modules on social class. You should read and annotate it carefully.  It presents two &#8220;formulas&#8221; (or diagrams) describing what each social class in a modern capitalist society (such as the US) does in everyday life. Thinking about social class through these diagrams offers a powerful insight on how classes function in our society, and what motivates the thinking, interests, and ideologies of the people in the different social classes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592508272-P.Jalee-LaborPowerandSurplusValue.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of 1592508272-P.Jalee-LaborPowerandSurplusValue.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-e49b6489-0e58-418b-a7a3-ba47951fafea\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592508272-P.Jalee-LaborPowerandSurplusValue.pdf\">1592508272-P.Jalee-LaborPowerandSurplusValue<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592508272-P.Jalee-LaborPowerandSurplusValue.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-e49b6489-0e58-418b-a7a3-ba47951fafea\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COMPLETE &#8211; Self-assessment exercise 5.1<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\">In preparation for our discussion board, study the following questions, by following the readings closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Small-scale commodity production:<\/strong> selling something that you made, in order to buy something that you need can be represented by the following diagram: C-M-C. Study what the letters mean, and what they describe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare <strong>small-scale commodity production<\/strong>, with &nbsp;<strong>buying&nbsp;in&nbsp;order&nbsp;to&nbsp;sell<\/strong>: M-C-M&#8217;. What is the difference described by the two diagrams? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In M-C-M&#8217;, pay close attention to what <strong>M&#8217;&nbsp;<\/strong>is. What does it mean? M&#8217; represents <strong>surplus&nbsp;value&nbsp;<\/strong>(which we have encountered already), but note how it is described in this reading. M-C-M&#8217; is <strong>the&nbsp;general&nbsp;formula&nbsp;of&nbsp;capital.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On p. 24 we have a discussion of <strong>labor&nbsp;power&nbsp;(<\/strong>which we already mentioned in the previous video, but now we&#8217;ll study it in more detail) and how it makes surplus value (or profits) possible for those who own money\/capital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How is <strong>money&nbsp;<\/strong>transformed&nbsp;into<strong>&nbsp;capital?&nbsp;<\/strong>This is a key point, because it describes how wealthy people remain wealthy as a class. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Another key point here is that the extraction of profits from the value created by workers, happens through something called <strong>surplus&nbsp;labor&nbsp;<\/strong>(review this process which is discussed on p. 26-27)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pages 28-29 can be read more quickly (skimmed), but make sure you read them!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WRITE &#8211; Discussion Board 5.2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\">Head over to Discussion Board 5.2&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think about and answer the following questions, as a way of summarizing our discussion in Modules 4 and 5 on social class. You will see some of these questions on our first exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/2024\/06\/02\/discussion-board-5-2\/\">Click to go to Discussion Board 5.2<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lesson 5.2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we have covered the basics of what social class is, in this lesson we will focus on how social class affects American society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WATCH &#8211; Intro Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"POL 100 (OL) - Intro to Lesson 5.2\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jzo0RpMgKQI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ &#8211; Reading 5.2 &#8211; M. Parenti: &#8220;Concentration of Capital, Who Owns America?&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Parenti gives a comprehensive and quick overview of how wealth is distributed in the United States. This is important to know in general, but later we will connect it to why the Constitution was designed the way it was, as well as a number of interesting current events in American politics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592509742-M.Parenti-ConcentrationofCapitalWhoOwnsAmerica.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of 1592509742-M.Parenti-ConcentrationofCapitalWhoOwnsAmerica.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ff3b3283-680b-4787-bd7a-f26a215f255b\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592509742-M.Parenti-ConcentrationofCapitalWhoOwnsAmerica.pdf\">1592509742-M.Parenti-ConcentrationofCapitalWhoOwnsAmerica<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a050-summer-2024\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3776\/2024\/06\/1592509742-M.Parenti-ConcentrationofCapitalWhoOwnsAmerica.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ff3b3283-680b-4787-bd7a-f26a215f255b\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COMPLETE &#8211; Self-assessment exercise 5.2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background\">In preparation for our discussion board, study the following questions, by following the readings closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/module-5-self-assessment-5-2\/\">Click for Self-Assessment Exercise 5.2<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WRITE &#8211; Discussion Board 5.3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Head over to discussion board 5.3:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pale-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/2025\/06\/01\/discussion-board-5-3\/\">Click to go to Discussion Board 5.3<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WRITE &#8211; Module 5 Response Paper<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If, as Reading 5.1 showed, the capitalist (wealth-owning) class can be described through the <strong>M&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;C&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;M&#8217;<\/strong> diagram, what would be the diagram that describes the lives of <em>working-class&nbsp;people<\/em>?  Use the same letters: <strong>M <\/strong>and<strong>&nbsp;C&nbsp;<\/strong>to write a diagram that contains three parts (just like the capitalist diagram). <em>HINT: <\/em>think about what each letter (M and C) refer to (M = money or capital; C = commodity). Then, think about which letter should you start the diagram for the working class (M or C)? Why?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Module 5 Reading Response Paper Upload<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#000000\" class=\"has-inline-color has-white-color\">Upload your Module 5 Reading Response Paper by clicking on the link below:<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/request\/TD5INbcusQoLY5aKIjSw\">https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/request\/TD5INbcusQoLY5aKIjSw<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WATCH &#8211; Module 5 Summary Video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NOTE: you should watch this video only after you&#8217;ve completed all discussion forums and the reading response paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"POL 100 (0506) Module 5 summary video\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/On8jJdTwx9c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ &#8211; notes that go with above summary video:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NOTE: the material discussed in the summary video and the notes below will appear as at least one of the questions on our first exam. Make sure you&#8217;ve studied these concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/msyxoj3afkp7s3ylsvx9w\/Module-5-summary-discussion.paper?dl=0&amp;rlkey=ngozrrxqydsvkz6c3nb02bu90\">https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/msyxoj3afkp7s3ylsvx9w\/Module-5-summary-discussion.paper?dl=0&amp;rlkey=ngozrrxqydsvkz6c3nb02bu90<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 5.1 &#8211; Social class: value, labor, capital In this lesson, we continue our study of social class by focusing in greater detail on key aspects of social class: value, means of production, factors of production, commodity, money, surplus value, profit. WATCH &#8211; Intro Video WATCH &#8211; Video 5.1 &#8211; Labor and Class Conflict Watch&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":185,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-457","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/185"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457"}],"version-history":[{"count":84,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6021,"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/457\/revisions\/6021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu\/pol-100-a051-american-government-summer-2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}