An interpretive approach that analyzes literature and other cultural products through the lens of class relations, social power dynamics, and economic structures constitutes a significant theoretical framework. This perspective examines how works of art reflect, reinforce, or challenge dominant ideologies and the material conditions of their production and reception. For example, a novel might be analyzed to reveal how it portrays the struggles of the working class or perpetuates capitalist values.
The value of this critical method lies in its ability to uncover hidden power structures and expose inequalities within society. By understanding how cultural artifacts are shaped by economic forces and class conflict, one gains insights into the ways ideology operates to maintain social control or, conversely, how art can serve as a tool for social change. Its historical roots are found in the writings of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who emphasized the role of economic factors in shaping human history and consciousness.
