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Some Definitions on Communication

by Tom Appleton

Social classes: people are said to belong to a common class if they share common characteristics and interests. Under the capitalistic mode of production the capitalists' class is characterised by control over the means of production and a usurpation of power resulting from that. The working class is characterised by a lack of control over the means of production and the product, and thereby their own conditions of living. They are alienated from their work. They are alienated from the product of their work. Communication in a capitalistic society takes place as an exchange between goods and commodities. Communication becomes a commodity. Consciousness becomes a marketable product, something outside of its owners. Communication in a class society, which is by definition a capitalistic society, becomes communication between goods and commodities, not between people.

The Masses: The members of the working class, which is the majority of the population. The masses are strong when they pursue an interest together; this is called solidarity. Solidarity is the masses' strength. That is why the ruling class, i.e. the capitalists class constantly attempts to split the masses, in order to perpetuate its rule.

Class Medium: Any medium like the press, radio, television, records, etc that is used against the masses. The ruling class does this by perpetuating the alienation of the working class consciousness.

Mass Communication: A commodity aimed at the masses and directed against their interest. The interest of the masses is the mass interest, which is to communicate with each other, to have an understanding of their situation, and to bring about a change. The change aimed at by the masses is democracy, which entails self-realization, self-fulfilment, absence of oppression, cooperation and other ideals It is part and parcel of the mass interest to realise these, i.e. to make them reality. Because this democracy is envisaged to span more than just the political, but also the economic, cultural, social, [unclear: etc] sectors of society, it is also called socialism, or, in its final stage, communism.

Propaganda: Any effort by the ruling class to make the masses subscribe to the interests of the ruling class. See mass communication.