Marxism and Hegemony

https://mediamacguffin12.blogspot.com/2021/03/tv-capital-marxism-and-hegemony.html 

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 hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant, determined to pay her way and not touch a penny of benefits. She was deported, though she did find time to teach English to some of her fellow saints at the detention centre.

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?

A Muslim man whose only crime was to burn the odd Union Jack

The hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant

Everything British came in for a dose of loathing

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

We can use Quentina to help the reason of a left-wing ideology. While Quentina is a hard working illegal immigrant which is struggling to earn a honest pay without getting benefits and living in the UK. She express to the audience, the harsh side of reality and expresses the kind of freedom that she had. 

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?

While Roger gets richer even though the limited education he has on the market he works on. While richer gets richer, poorer gets poorer.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marx was interested in the impact of capitalism on society. Through observations of industrialised Victorian society he noted a number of things: • Power was held by a minority (the elite or bourgeoisie) who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth 

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

The Apprentice reinforces and supports these values supporting the needs of the economic system we are in. This particular false consciousness obscures the fact that different personality traits have different strengths and those not suited to today’s working climate are rejected. In addition, the ‘rightness’ of capitalism and a desire to work within businesses where profit is the only motivation

3) Come up with three 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'.)

Snog, Marry, Avoid?  (2008-present: BBC):

People are discouraged from dressing in a way that is deemed as ‘common’ or ‘classless’ and the ‘make-under’ provided creates looks for the young women that fit in better with ‘middle class’ social norms. In addition, the fashion/make-up advice offered promotes the idea of consumerism as a more acceptable look can be gained by purchasing products

(Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003: BBC)):

when, despite the hardship and economic deprivation experienced by Del and his family, being working class offers a range of positive experiences.  The characters are part of a close-knit family, a supportive community and can escape from the trials of modern life via an active social life in the pub. 

(The Pursuit of Happyness(2006)):

Movie is about a single father struggling from his past failures. He one day meets a broker and experienced the lifestyle he lived. The narrative is the up bringing of the struggle and the Chris trying his best to achieve his dream job to be a broker.

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.

Roger story in ep.1 is a prime example of Marxist meaning. He first introduced Roger as a rich office worker with a troubled, gold-digger wife. One scene we can read the Marxist meaning is the scene where Roger opens the letter where his pay bonus is 30k£. Even though 30K is a lot of money to live with. "You’d be surprised at how little £1m covers these days" shows that the Roger accepts the masses of accepting the values of the power elite.