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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln J mes A. R wley Gr du te Conference in the History, Dep rtment of Hum nities 4-8-2006 Ugly and Monstrous: Marx ist Aesthetics Chris Rasmussen University of N ebraska–Lincoln, crasmus3@ Follow this nd dditional works t : /historyr wleyconference P rt of the History Commons Rasmussen, Chris, Ugly nd Monstrous: M rxist Aesthetics (2006). J ames A. Rawley Gr aduate Conference in the Humanities. P per 7. /historyr wleyconference/7 This Article is brought to you for free nd open ccess by the History, Dep rtment of t DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been ccepted for inclusion in J mes A. R wley Gr du te Conference in the Hum nities by n uthorized dministr tor of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Ugly and Monstrous: Marxist Aesthetics Chris Rasmussen University of Nebraska–Lincoln Abstract An analysis of Marxist conceptions of the good and the beautiful and their relationship to alienation, “Ugly and Monstrous” argues that Marxism was ulti- mately a set of aesthetic beliefs, one that paradoxically called for the temporary cessation of all attempts to create beautiful artwork. Marx understood beauty as Kant had – that it is the result of the harmonization of the faculties that occurs when a disinterested observer encounters a work of art. Capitalism gives to all works (art included) monetary value, and all observers become interested con- sumers, debasing art appreciation and killing the human desire (and need) to experience the beautiful. h e work of later Marxists, particularly Walter Benjamin and Herbert Mar- cuse, take the Marxist