The Social Ideology of the Motorcar

The motorcar is a perfect example of how production for profit alters the entire world in the image of the commodity, potentially even at the expense of future human life on earth. A foldable 8-page booklet that you can print at home on both sides of 2 sheets of paper (and staple twice in the middle fold between pages 4 and 5) was created in .pdf format for your interest. You will be able to download the 4 .pdf files at the end of this short introduction. It is Andre Gorz’ brilliant 1973 critique (originally in French) of the ideology of the motorcar, the prime example of capitalist individualism and mass consumption at the terrible expense of the quality of human life. It is, in this author’s opinion, one of the finest political articles ever written of an anti-capitalist nature. This author has produced it to hand out to fellow bicyclists at Critical Mass events, or simply to hand out to pedestrians he passes while on his bike. It concludes with a brief paragraph penned by this author to point newcomers to this website and thus to socialist ideas. Members and non-members alike (especially fellow cyclists!) are strongly encouraged to print this up in your home and to hand out to random fellow citizens.

motorcar.pdf