Still reeling from the papal conclave? Curious about the power and influence of the Catholic Church? Join DSA SF’s newest book club as we dive into the hidden messages at the intersection of art and history, all through a socialist lens. Two days only! No reading required for the first one, but we’ll be discussing the whole dang book at the second (still no reading required though).

Join us at the DSA Office at 1916 McAllister on May 15 and May 27 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., or via Zoom:

May 15 session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tw_O5sK_RtuhSXBBPIG2rw
May 27 session: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jWyflJf4R2OzlJx_5NjdEw

• Knowledge and Ideology
  • What is “dominant ideology,” and how does it relate to Marxist theory? How do ruling powers use ideology to control society?
  • Discuss the idea that "history is written by the winners." How does this connect to the struggles of working-class people or marginalized groups?
• Feminism and the Patriarchy
  • The novel centers on the "sacred feminine" and the role of Mary Magdalene in history. How does this relate to feminist theory?
  • What happens when capitalism (and religion) attempts to repress women’s autonomy, power, and representation?
• Class and Power Dynamics
  • Key terms
    • Class is how society is divided into groups based on who has control over resources. Bourgeoise (ruling class) are folks who own the means of production. Proletariat (working class) are folks who sell their labor to survive.
    • Class struggle is the ongoing conflict between different classes in society.
    • Power is the ability to influence or control people, resources, or situations.
    • The state (and its power) exists to maintain the interests of the ruling class, even if it appears to act in the interest of the broader population.
    • Hegemony is the way the ruling class secures consent from the masses, not just through coercion, but by shaping ideas and values that make the current power structure seem "natural" or inevitable.

• How do you think class shapes the way people experience the world?
• What types of power exist in your world?
• Who holds power in our society?

• Everybody agrees to read the book by the next meeting!
• The importance of reading through a critical lens and thinking about how The Da Vinci Code connects to socialist themes.

• Someone give a brief recap of the main plot.
• What were peoples’ overall impressions of the book?

• Knowledge and Ideology
  • How does this tie into Marxist ideas about how dominant ideologies are maintained by powerful institutions?
  • How do the Catholic Church and secret societies like Opus Dei in the book control access to knowledge?
  • How do these institutions maintain ideological control over the masses, especially through history, religion, and the suppression of alternative narratives?
• Feminism and Patriarchy
  • Does the big reveal in the book challenge or reinforce ideas about the patriarchy? Challenge them
  • How can we see the role of women in the book as a metaphor for the broader struggle for women’s autonomy and the feminist fight against the patriarchy?
• Class and Power Dynamics
  • Does the book acknowledge class inequalities, or is it more about power struggles within the elite?
  • How do class dynamics play out among the characters?
  • Does the novel suggest that powerful institutions like the Church or secret societies should be dismantled, reformed, or simply understood?
  • Does the book show any class conflict, even symbolically?

What Are We Supposed to Get from This Book?

• How does the book shape the reader’s view of powerful institutions? Should we treat them with skepticism, resist them, or just live with them?
• Why was this book so popular? Was it just an easy-to-read mass produced thriller, or did it tap into deeper societal concerns about authority and control?

Open Discussion

• Any other thoughts on the book or the themes discussed?
• Have your views on the book and its themes shift after reading it from a socialist perspective?