what does this sociological phrase mean?

Question

involving Antonio Gramsci the neo-marxist:

'he rejected the traditional marxist view that the cultural superstructure merely reflected society's economic base'

can anyone explain what the phrase means? it would hel me a lot!

Answer 1

In the traditional Marxist view the economy is the foundation or base of society. The political structure and ideas, for example, the existence of ruling class are a result of the organization of the economy and the means of production.

Answer 2

marxist vision of society is based on the proletariat's control of the economy and how workers would organize not only be paramount in economic but also political, social, cultural spheres. hence the society can be classless as is opposite with the capitalist where the superstructure is always pyramidal. antonio looking at marxist societies around felt that is not as what classical marxism intended it to be. society irrespective of their ideological inclination somehow seems always pyramidal.