'Marx and the Capitalist Mode of Production': lecture by Mark Cousins, 20th October, 1999

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90min), 4 digital files (1.3 GB)

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'Marx and the Capitalist Mode of Production', given by Mark Cousins on the 20th October, 1999. The recordings consist of a 90minute audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation copies (964 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access copies (218 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 1hr 35min 22sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The lecture was part of the AA General Studies series, 'Cultural Organisation of Space'. In this lecture, Mark Cousins tackles the question: 'where does profit or wealth come from?' He discusses notions of mercantilism and discusses Adam Smith's ideas regarding redistribution of wealth and the circulation of the economy. Cousins then compares Adam's writings with the Marxist arguments on economy, focusing on the first chapter in Das Kapital… Mark Cousins then examines several issues relating to Marx's view on exchange value and commodities and their relation to society. Cousins argues that from the Marxist perspective, the analysis should be understood as a philosophical problem, and the discussion of the economic structure should be thought of almost as an account of an architectural model.

Custodial History: Audio cassette recording was made by the AA Audio Visual Departement and retained by the AA Photo Library until 2019, when it was transferred to the AA Archives.

Aquisition: Audio cassette was transferred from the AA Photo Libary to the AA Archives in 2019. Digital preservation and access copies were created by the AA Archives in 2021.

Archive Note: Catalogue description by Ke Bo Tsai

Publication Note: AA Events List, Week 3, Autumn Term, 18th - 22nd October, 1999