Open University of the Left Presents:
Bill Pelz on the Commodification of Everyday Life and Popular
Culture
Dr. William A. Pelz, author, veteran activist, not to mention
unrepentant Marxist, will explore the ways in which literally
everything has become a commodity - a thing to be bought and
sold. We used to shop out of necessity. Now it's America's
favorite sport and our legal addiction of choice. Why must dollars
burn a hole through our collective pocket ... and how can we
resist our own commodification in a marketplace world?
Pelz is professor of history at Elgin Community College and
international secretary of the Chicago Socialist Party. Prof. Pelz
has a longstanding relationship with OUL, and we are happy to
welcome him back to the lectern. His presentation will shed light
on one of the building blocks of Marxist theory, showing how
capitalism affects us even at the deepest levels of our being.
WHEN & WHERE:
Saturday, August 12, 2 PM at In These Times, 2040 N.
Milwaukee (2nd floor), Chicago, near the CTA Blue Line's
Western-Armitage stop.
FOR MORE INFO:
Call (847) 677-5474 if you have a question or would like to lead
an OUL session. Please forward this announcement to anyone
you think may be interested in attending the program. For more
information about OUL, or to join the OUL Yahoo group, go to
www.yahoo.com, click on "groups," type "oulchicago" into the
search field and click the search button. Click on "oulchicago" to
see recent news and announcements or to join the group.
ABOUT THE OUL:
The Open University of the Left (OUL) is an independent,
non-sectarian, free-speech forum formed in 1987 to organize
presentations, discussion groups and film showings about
politics, current events, literature, philosophy, history and social
theory.
UPCOMING OUL PROGRAMS:
Thursday, Aug. 24, 7 PM: A showing of the documentary "The
Revolution will Not Be Televised," an on-the-spot look at the
failed coup against Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez,
followed by a discussion led by Venezuelan Deputy Consul
Omar Sierra.
Thursday, Aug. 31, 7 PM: Activist/independent scholar Eric
Shuster, editor of the new journal Strikeonline.org, discusses the
coming crisis in "Dollar Daze: Who Benefits from the Bush
Economy?"
Thursday, Sept. 7, 7 PM: Jorge Mujica, Secretary-General of the
Illinois chapter of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), looks
at the recent contested election in Mexico and the ongoing
struggle for democracy.
Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 PM: Scott Marshall, lifelong trade unionist,
vice chair of the Communist Party USA and chair of its national
labor commission, explores "Labor in the Era of Capitalist
Globalization."
(Please note that upcoming OUL events are subject to change,
and new events may be scheduled as opportunities arise. We'll
let you know about changes, cancellations, etc. through frequent
updates via our Yahoo group list.)
Yahoo! Groups Links
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