“Fetishism of commodities” is a concept that Karl Marx introduced in his critique of capitalist societies, notably in his work “Capital, Volume I.”
This term does not relate to unconventional desires but rather to the distortion of social relationships within a capitalist framework.
In societies driven by capitalism, commodities are goods produced for exchange, possessing both use value (utility) and exchange value (market price). However, Marx observed that in such systems, these tangible items acquire a mystified and nearly autonomous quality that obscures the social dynamics underlying their production. This phenomenon of fetishism transpires when the interpersonal connections among people are overshadowed by the relationships among commodities.
While commodities seem to possess an intrinsic value tied to their physical attributes, their actual value is rooted in the labor required for their creation. Yet, this linkage is veiled, leading to a perception that commodities possess inherent and objective value. This notion extends to money as well, which evolves into a symbol of abstract value rather than solely a medium of trade.
This distortion yields significant societal consequences. The fetishism of commodities distances individuals from their labor contributions, as their endeavors are transformed into abstract value detached from the actual work. Furthermore, it promotes a culture of consumption and possession, reinforcing the capitalist production model.
Marx’s notion of fetishism of commodities reveals capitalism’s ability to shape how individuals perceive and interact with their surroundings. By exposing how apparently objective economic relationships are actually products of social processes, Marx aimed to stimulate a deeper comprehension of the fundamental mechanics of capitalism and their implications for economic and social equity.