Do Economics Influence All?

In Beginning Theory, Barry states that the, "simplest Marxist mode of society sees it as constituted by a base... and a superstructure, which is the 'cultural' world of ideas, art, religion, law and so on... are not 'innocent', but are 'determined'...by the nature of the economic base." (160-161) I think he's partially right.

I don't think that all art, law, religion, etc. are based on and determined by the economic base. Some can be, and is. Yet, to say that all of it is, is simply untrue. It would akin to saying that a fashion designer only designs from a single fabric. Art can be determined and influenced by anything and everything, not just the economic base.

But then again, I'm still a bit confused by the whole idea, mainly because we haven't spent much time on this topic in class.



Source: https://giphy.com/gifs/obama-michelle-obama-3otPoyyLkZFsAofO0M