Marxism and Hegemony: blog tasks

 

Task 1: Mail Online review of Capital

1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?

The Capital features a left-wing ideology because it shows how the review was slightly on the negative, saying that the actual narrative was inadequate and has no plot. In addition, it seemed as thought audiences didn't like how there were some scenes that were going too slow and they thought that Capital could have changed it to something more interesting for audiences.

2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blogpost. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?

"...until I was gnawing my knuckles with frustration. Honestly, you’ll get rid of your family after Christmas faster than this feeble drama departed."

"The last 20 minutes contained no plot."

"You can be certain it wasn’t the plot that attracted the BBC drama department in the first place."

3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?

There was a scene where Roger wasn't able to get his bonus for his hardwork, where he seemed down about it, reinforcing capitalism and how money is only given to those in the higher class.  Also, the scene where one of the brothers in the Pakistani family was arrested as the police have suspected him for giving out the postcards of "WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE", showing a sense of racism as they are seen as vulnerbale and couldn't do anything during the arresting scene.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?

There were multiple scenes that shows how the housing prices are increasing which shows how capitalism are desperate to gain profit from the housing prices and they may have taken advantage of the idea of more people migrating to the UK.


Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #66: Applying Marxism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level or online here (you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

The Marxism suggest that the power in society is controlled by the elite or the bourgeouisie, where people in the society only has their labour while the elites owns the means of production and they expected the mass to just accept their position as powerless workers. 

2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?

The Apprentice is a good example of the media reinforcing the capitalist views becuase it shows how there were people applying for a job that is only controlled by the elite which is Lord Alan Sugar. It shows how the applying people were competing to be able to work for him. This reinforces capitalist views as it shows how the mass people don't have control witht their future and only depends on their labour that is also controlled by the elite. Also, this shows how the elite are giving the ideology to the mass that they should just accpet their position as powerless workers. 

3) Come up with two examples of media texts (e.g. TV programmes, newspapers etc.) that either fetishise working class life (e.g. EastEnders presents quite a harmonious East End community which probably doesn't accurately reflect East London life) or demonise working class life or poor people (e.g. The Daily Mail and The Sun newspapers regularly demonise people living on benefits with headlines referring to 'scroungers'.) Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

One example is the film I, Daniel Blake, this shows the suffering of the working class, where the middle class may find it amusing or interesting to see the working-class struggle while they don't. 

Another example is the tabloid newspapers such as The Sun newspapers this is due to the idea the it’s highlighting the traditions and industrious “ordinary” people who are hardworking. They often have main images that are paparazzi shots where again most elites gain interests in.

4) Look at the bullet points on page 4 of the factsheet:

When making a Marxist reading of a text, look out for representations that:

• show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass
• show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’
• show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea
• show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’
• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing
• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite
• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant)

Now try applying those bullet points to Capital. Think about the setting, characters and narrative strands - how many of the bullet points apply to Capital? Does Capital reinforce or challenge the values of capitalism? Give examples from episode 1 to support your points.

The idea of showing values of the power elite as 'natural' or 'right'. This is when Roger didn't get the bonus he was expecting when he worked hard at work. This shows how working hard and not getting a claim or reward from it is seen as 'normal' that Roger or the mass are expected to just accept as they are the vulnerable ones who are controlled by the elites, which in this case is Roger's boss. Furthermore, this links to the masses accepting the values of the power of elite as it shows how Roger didn't do anything to claim his bonus and just stayed at home feeling down.

Another idea from the bullet points is the idea that being a member of the mass is a good thing. This is shown where there was a meeting in the community, talking about the postcards that were given to each and everyone's home. This is also where the police who works for the government tries to help the people on Pepys street which kind of shows how everyone in the community are helping each other out to this enigmatic problem around them. Furthermore, when Arabella came to the corner shop the father asked his daughter to get some vegetables, I think, from upstairs where they didn't have in the shop. However, Roger and his family shows that they aren't that close with the Asian families as they don't really go to the corner shop to buy groceries, instead they get it from elsewhere that they may have seen as a much more better quality.

In addition, another idea is when the values of the power elite are seen as being 'for the good of the masses' (even when unpleasant). This is where one of the son of the Pakistani family was arrested for the postcards when it wasn't really him, this shows how the elite tries to remove or get rid of the harm around the area, which is the postcards. But it was unpleasant as they have arrested the wrong person.