Introduction

Abstract

The history of the 21st century cannot be told without reference to both cinema and communism. Whilst communism presented itself as the political system entrusted with implementing Marxist ideas and challenging the hegemony of capitalism, cinema became the main tool of social communication and a major cultural institution. However, by the end of the century both had lost their privileged positions. Cinema as an institution became supplanted by other forms of visual communication, such as television and the internet. Its privileged access to reality also became questioned as a result of technological developments, most importantly through a gradual replacement of analogue by digital technologies. Communism, almost everywhere it ruled, gave way to a neoliberal version of capitalism. But neither cinema nor Marxism disappeared from political and artistic debates. On the contrary, in the last decade we observe intensified discussions about their importance, although usually conducted separately. This book intends to bring them together, pointing both to their common fate and differences in relation to culture, social life and politics.