Robin Hood: The Socialist

Little John: You know somethin’, Robin. I was just wonderin’, are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh? Our robbin’ the rich to feed the poor. 

Robin Hood: Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That’s a naughty word. We never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it. 

Little John: Borrow? Boy, are we in debt. 

      In the 1950's, to propose a more equal distribution of wealth would warrant you jail time for being a communist. Today, you'd be considered a socialist, negatively so to some. This ideology has been attacked many times in history, but why? A shrinking middle class and an increasing poverty rate is feared, but those who have the money seem to not be willing to give a little of their fortunes for the well being of the less fortunate. If I'm not mistaken, Robin Hood is praised for doing just that his own way, valiantly, however illegally. In a fictional sense, the idea is applauded, so why not in application?

     The Occupy Wall Street movement has roots in Marxist ideology with the slogan "We are the 99%" which attempts to create a disparity of the middle class from the richest 1% of the United States. Supporters assert that those with the most money have caused the current recession because of their money-hungry methods of capitalism. Bansky, a famous British street artist, challenges capitalist ideals with his installation at the Occupy London movement. He satires Monopoly, a board game based on owning as much real estate as possible with the goal of bankrupting opponents or becoming the richest player. Poor Mr. Moneybags, the face of the rich in his sleek black tuxedo, has been left to beg for money and has lost at his own game. 

      With the economic conditions as they currently are, Marxist criticism as exemplified in pop and high culture I believe will be springing up everywhere. Marx alleges that hegemony creates a status quo unattested, but a challenge has been issued by the middle class, and this challenge is one Marx himself would be proud of.