Latest news with #KarlMarx
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Love in the time of partisan politics: No, opposites don't attract
Whoever came up with the adage that 'opposites attract' clearly wasn't trying to date in a democracy. It's a theory best confined to magnets, where it's at least literally true. Sorry about the outburst. Perhaps it stems from my spectacular failure to match with someone who has actually read all 1,000 pages of Das Kapital — never mind that I barely made it through the first seven minutes of Karl Marx's ENTIRE Theory Explained in 48 Minutes on YouTube. Or maybe I'm still reeling from this weekend, when my mum insisted during lunch that she set me up with the daughter of someone from her power-walking gang. When I asked, 'Does she follow the news?' she snapped, 'That shouldn't matter.' I nearly let a fish bone take me out, just to end the conversation. The obsession with finding someone who thinks like me isn't about romanticising some grand union of love and politics — at this point, I might even settle for someone who thinks voting is hot. And I'm not disputing the fact that people tend to seek partners with similar political views — that's well documented across numerous studies and surveys; for example, as recently as April, an NBC News poll in the United States found that the partisan divide between Gen Z women (largely pro-Democrat) and Gen Z men (leaning Republican) is the widest of all generations. The real question, then, is: Why, in the pursuit of love, does this factor appear to be non-negotiable today, rather than just a bonus point? The truth is, if there's any life advice worth heeding over 'opposites attract,' it's the far less glamorous, but infinitely more reliable 'Be practical'. After all, socialism, liberalism, conservatism — these aren't just political theories taught in textbooks; they're perspectives (except apoliticism, which is supposedly a lack of interest in politics or political neutrality, but really, it's just what LinkedIn bros call a personality). Politics isn't just how I vote. It's how I interpret my world, and how I make sense of the people I let into it. Having a friend who disagrees with me on secularism in Political Philosophy class is one thing, but spending the rest of my life with someone who doesn't share a basic vision of the country we want our children to grow up in? That's not so simple. Can you imagine the endless squabbling? I'm just trying to eat rice and dal. She's mid-rant: 'You Leftists and your reservations ruined Saxena ji's son's medical dreams!' I chew, nod, and go, 'Yes, because god forbid we ask why 'merit' always looks like Saxena ji's son.' She can't resist: 'One Marxist book and now you think you're Che Guevara?' Even if we somehow managed to follow a strict 'no-politics' rule — no debates, no shouting matches, no Rumble in the Jungle — how comfortable would we really be knowing that our partner, the so-called love of our life, holds diametrically opposite ideas about society, justice, government, and humanity? About how people should be treated by the State? About whose lives matter, and whose don't? How do I look someone in the eye and say 'I love you' with full sincerity, knowing that they genuinely believe in a socialist world, the poor would be handed free iPhones? Can I really love someone who thinks like that? Isn't it more likely for those much-talked-about sparks to fly with someone who, too, has lost sleep over Donald Trump's return to power and teared up during Zohran Mamdani's celebratory speech? I'm not saying the world should be free of Conservatives and Liberals, and I hope they don't wish the same fate on us Leftists. As Hegel argued with his Dialectics, contradiction is essential; without it, there's no movement, no progress. Society needs an ideological back-and-forth to evolve. But in dating or marriage? That kind of contradiction isn't evolutionary, it's exhausting. Love is hard enough without having to argue the basics, like whether billionaires should exist or not (they shouldn't).
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Why this 'stunning' park has been named the best in London
In a list created by Barratt London, they analysed 34 of London's top-rated green spaces using reviews, distance from the nearest station and richness of greenery. Each green space was then given a score out of 100 to create the final ranking of London's top ten green spaces. You can see the full list of London's top green spaces here. The 'stunning' park named best in London Earning the number one spot on the list was Hyde Park, described as one of the "most iconic parks" in the capital. Sharing why it earned the top spot, Barrett London said: "Located in central London, this stunning Royal Park offers visitors a beautiful retreat from the busy city with lake-side paths along the Serpentine as well as plentiful trees and luscious grass to relax on during sunny days. "Hyde Park boasts a rich history, being established by Henry VIII in 1536 and opened to the public in 1637. "Free-speech advocates may be inclined to visit Speakers' Corner, which has been a pivotal destination for debate since 1872, hosting such disparate speakers, from Karl Marx to George Orwell. Recommended Reading "This park is a must-see for many tourists exploring London, as well as those visiting the iconic annual BTS music festival, which is reflected in its high number of five-star reviews. "With its central location and incredible access to tube stations, Hyde Park can be a simple and easy destination to enjoy a lovely summer's day." Also featured on the list was St. James's Park in second place, which is described as providing an "excellent peaceful route between Buckingham Palace to the West, and Big Ben and Westminster Abbey to the East."
AU Financial Review
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
Karl Marx's grave gets a Labor tribute
For generations, political nerds in London have stopped in on the grave of Karl Marx. The immense presence of it in Highgate Cemetery means it's also forever been a place of shenanigans. Recently someone placed on the grave a Labubu, the plush toy craze among Gen Zers that would, guaranteed, have driven the philosopher king insane. While people copulate beneath the famous Parisian grave of Doors singer Jim Morrison, those at Marx's are mostly making poignant offerings. 'WORKERS OF ALL LANDS UNITE,' the headstone reads, perfect for Instagram.
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Labubus of the world unite, but not at Karl Marx's grave
If not contradictions, then what? Just beneath the iconic slogan "Workers of the world, unite!" engraved on the grave of German philosopher Karl Marx, was a Labubu doll, carefully placed, reveals a now-viral post on X. Labubus — a symbol of capitalism — of the world can unite, but not at the grave of the father of Communist photo of the odd pairing went viral, racking up over 10 million views in just five days. While some adored the quirky contrast, others were far less one user said, "Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things ever". The designer toy, arguably a peak symbol of late-stage consumerism, which the philosopher had long warned against, resting on the grave of the man whose socio-economic theories laid the foundation for anti-capitalist thought in the modern world, felt nothing short of ironic, and yet, undeniably some people offered an "awww", what truly stood out was a handwritten letter by a Chinese student placed next to the Labubu doll, amid other tokens of tribute left for the letter, the student, having claimed to study theories at length, hailed Marx's ideas for transforming China's destiny, which were, honestly, far more heartfelt and endearing. But in the capitalist world, who's really stopping to read that?"People clowning on the Labubu but the letter itself is very heartfelt," a person DOLLS AND COMPULSIVE CONSUMERISMLabubu dolls, part of Pop Mart's "The Monsters" collection, are the brainchild of Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. These snaggle-toothed, elf-like figures have become a global sensation among the GenZ. Its marketing model has thrived on scarcity and surprise. Sold in blind boxes, buyers don't know which doll they'll get until they open it — a tactic that mirrors gambling mechanics and drives compulsive limited-edition figures reselling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, Labubus, to me at least, epitomises the artificial desire Marx critiqued in his warnings about capitalism's commodification of human dolls, often flaunted by influencers like Rihanna and Dua Lipa, have gone from being toys to status symbols for Gen Zs, and now, even gripped the late toys dangling from luxury handbags as badges have become symbols of Labubu dolls range from $15–$30 for standard figures and keychains, up to $960 for large editions. Rare 1.2-metre pieces fetching up to $170,000 at auctions. In India, prices start at Rs 2,000 for authentic pieces, but in flea markets, one can find counterfeit ones for as low as Rs ARE WHAT MARX HAD WARNED OFThe manufactured hype, where value stems from market frenzy rather than utility, is what late-stage consumerism is, Marx foresaw. It is a system where desire is engineered, and consumption is an internet's reaction to the Labubu on Marx's grave was a mix of hilarity and biting commentary."Icon of modern consumerism on his grave. He would have hated you," one person wrote. And fair enough, given the dissonance of a capitalist trinket adorning the resting place of Communism's person observed, "There's something deeply poetic and unhinged about a collectable capitalist gremlin sitting on the grave of the man who critiqued capitalism itself. Peak irony".With the question of who placed the doll still unanswered, the safest guesses remain a playful tourist, a cheeky critic, or an unwitting fan. But the sentiment online was clear: "Capitalism wins again", as one person declared, though perhaps they missed the fall of the Berlin LETTER AND BOILED POTATOES FOR MARXWith the viral buzz on, the Chinese student's letter offered a counterpoint. Written by one Liu Yuhae, the letter was full of deep gratitude for Marx's influence on contemporary socialist thought in China."I have always wanted to write you a letter," the student began, admitting their struggle to fully grasp his complex works, like The Communist Manifesto and The Critique of the Gotha a heartfelt touch, the student joked about looking like a potato and dreaming of cooking them for Marx in the after all, in his The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte (1852), likened the French peasantry to a sack of potatoes, lumped together by condition but scattered in spirit, incapable of collective action without a binding IT NEED A LABUBU DOLL TO REMIND THE WORLD OF MARX?This letter carried, if not less, far more substance, more weight and thoughtfulness, the kind of note that truly belonged knows how many such letters lie unread at Marx's grave? But in a world dominated by capitalism, it took a Labubu doll for the post to go combined appearance of the sincere letter and the Labubu doll in northern London, where the philosopher spent the last decades of his life after fleeing political persecution in continental Europe, is nothing short of magic and their fans of the world may well unite and are uniting, but preferably not at Karl Marx's grave. True admirers of such marketed and ornamented trends would be better off finding more appreciative company presence of the Labubu doll at Marx's grave, however, is a reminder of capitalism's uncanny ability to repackage things as a marketable aesthetic. Let the dolls gather elsewhere, and leave Marx's to inspire, at least until the workers of the world unite. If they really ever do.- Ends
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Labubu doll left at Karl Marx's grave in London sparks viral reactions online
A viral photo showing a Labubu doll sitting at Karl Marx's grave has captured the internet's attention, blending cultural contradiction with humour and irony. Spotted at Highgate Cemetery in London, the Pop Mart character, symbolic of today's consumer-driven collectible culture, was placed beside the final resting place of one of capitalism's most outspoken critics. A Labubu was left on Karl Marx's grave. — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) July 24, 2025 The visual struck a chord online, with users calling it 'the most ironic moment in recent memory.' Known for being a product of surprise boxes and limited-edition hype, Labubu represents the very market obsession Karl Marx critiqued. 'Placing a Labubu there is actually akin to performing voodoo on Marx,' one user joked. Another wrote, 'Yes, there's a Labubu on Marx's grave. Capitalism won.' The scene became even more layered with the presence of a handwritten letter from Chinese student Liu Yuhae. The note thanked Marx for shaping her worldview and included a heartfelt line: 'I already look like a potato now... It has always been my long-cherished wish to cook potatoes for you every day in the afterlife.' Though some found the moment sweet, most online reactions focused on the symbolic clash. One user wrote, 'Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things,' while another added, 'The fact of knowing there is currently a Labubu on Karl Marx's grave bothers me at least twice in every hour.' From confused laughter to philosophical reflection, the image has sparked global conversation.
