Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.2, 2023

An Artistic Production towards Communication: An Interpretation of Marx’s Aesthetic Characteristics

(Abstract)

Zhang Bing

A new meaning can be found in Marx’s theory of production, namely the productive aspect of artistic activity. In the same way that production is directed towards communication, artistic production is directed towards artistic communication. Marx argued that spiritual communication has a dual nature, both as a means and as an end, and therefore artistic communication as a subcategory of communication also has a dual nature, which brings about dual means and ends in artistic activity. The focus on the intentionality of artistic production and exchange helps to grasp Marx’s aesthetic characteristics, namely that Marx’s aesthetic thought is both interventionist and self-contained.