Marxism & 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 DM a clearly right wing newspaper is trying to criticise left wing ideologies because they do not support the positive portrayal of immigrants and other because they find it to be harmful and oppose it. They think that 'impartial' institutions like the BBC should not promote this because it encourages tolerance. Moreover, the positive representation of immigrants, Muslims. and negative representation of white rich characters like Rodger and Arabella demonstrate this.

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?

• Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary.
• Left staring at the proverbial damp squib.
• Everything British came in for a dose of loathing.

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

• The scene where Shahid is voicing his political opinions even insulting British people.
• The general construction of Quintina as a character - sympathy

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

• Rodger and Arabella's lifestyle - only 30
• The representation of the banking industry - money oriented

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?

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 fact that Sugar has all the power reinforces the ‘superior’ position of the capitalist elite.
• All of the contestants are dependent on him for their survival in the show (and implicitly, beyond). The contestants are challenged each week to complete tasks that have some relationship to the world of business.

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.

Fetishised - Shameless: Experiences as a poor person are presented as good in this show as they present their lives as adventurous, and rebellious with no consequences, and even if there are any they're usually brushed off as not important. This represents the life of poverty in some ways ideal and somewhat empowering, especially because the show does not delve into the structural issues which keep families in poverty.

Demonised - The Daily Mail regularly villainizes the poor, or just generally anybody who does not uphold their standard of 'Britishness'. They often link poverty and immigration claiming immigrants are stealing jobs, creating the idea that outsiders are "exploiting" the system. Instead of blaming economic issues, they find a scapegoat (the poor) to demonise to increase hostility towards them benefiting their anti-immigration ideologies. 

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

• show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the masses: The housing crisis' is caused by the banks/bankers failing, so they are dependent on that industry's success.
• show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’: Quintina trying to appeal to stay and work legally failing and amounting to nothing.
• show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea: Kamal family and Quintina demonstrate this because they fight for their own equality and oppose the power of the elite because they are directly affected by it.
• show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’: Rodger calls his bonus "Fundamentally unfair" - he feels that as a banker he is entitled to this because of the norm.
• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing: The general sense of community that is built up throughout the series. Arabella feels the warmth of the community when experiencing their kindness.
• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite: Quintina wants to fight against asylum laws and stay, however, she has to succumb to them because there is no way out.
• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant): The banking industry (heart of the capital)  in London, although clearly for personal gain, they convince the public they are doing them a favour especially as the riches most booming field. The failure of it even leading to the financial housing crisis which affects the masses.

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.