Lexicon for a Capitalist Image

This article examines the intricate relationship between capitalism, its visual representation, and its logic of appearance. It addresses the paradox of how capitalist production, rooted in the exploitation of labor, is transformed in the sphere of circulation into a system of equivalences that conceals social contradictions. Central to this discussion is the dual role of the image, which both reveals and obscures capitalism's inherent antagonisms. The authors revisit Sergei Eisenstein's unrealized attempt to visually adapt Marx's Capital, in which montage was envisioned as a tool to unravel the complexities of capitalist dynamics. They also reference contemporary works, such as Jia Zhang-ke's Touch of Sin, which dialectically negotiate the universality of capitalist exploitation through localized narratives. Additionally, the essay explores key theoretical concepts, including commodity fetishism, abstract labor, and fictitious capital, arguing that cinema's capacity to expose, mediate, and recontextualize the concrete transforms our perception and understanding of these phenomena. By analyzing cinema's engagement with appearance and its role in addressing capitalism's representational challenges, the authors highlight the critical importance of visual and film studies in providing a unique perspective to interrogate and confront the complexities of capitalism's elusive mode of appearance.