For Marx, commodity is the main category for understanding capitalism. Mediator of social relations, it is rather a thing that serves to satisfy some human needs. In a system based on the exchange, the use-value of the commodity, which refers to its usefulness to satisfy those needs, also appears as a material support for the exchange value whereby commodities are exchanged in the market. The textbook is not different. As use-value, it satisfies the needs of some educational expectations, but in order to meet those needs it is subordinated to the exchange-value and its determinations. This article examines historically the twofold character of the textbook, with emphasis on its configuration in Brazil.
textbook; commodity; culture industry