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?

Capital features a left-wing ideology suggest wanting a freedom from a politic perspective like Quentina is an immigrant and the producer has intentionally made us want her to stay in England as she's a hard worker.Her character has been structured to weigh on the good qualities of being an immigrant, she is working hard because she wants to stay in the country which then she is contributing her loyalty to the community. Therefore, the producer wants that stereotypical label of immigrants being the cause of overcrowding in the country.

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?

• "Posting ominous cards though the doors in a gentrified London Street."

• " You can be certain it wasn't the plot that attracted the BBC drama department in the first place. Capital was a stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn's function diary."

• "the Polish builder had a heart of gold and his Hungarian girlfriend was a honest as Mother Teresa."

To some extent, I agree with most of what the review has to say as the series ending didn't go that well and nothing really happened but I disagree with the review of hate to left wing as Capital shows evidence of producing left wing ideology.

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

Quentina in scene 2.

The builders working on Roger's and Arabella's house.

Roger's childrens nanny.

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

In scene 5, Roger and Arabella are fighting about the money situation as he is wealthy he is and "what is the use of 30 grand?" is a quote to demonstrate how oblivious he is to knowing that he is lucky as in contrast to the Kamal family who have little, they are surviving perfectly fine without 30 grand.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxism suggest that power in society is based on capitalist views due to the consumption of that social interaction. As media sociologists search throughout the sites and research to figure out the concept of what they are reviewing.

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

The Apprentice shows capitalist by how the entrepreneur Lord Alan Sugar is presented to show capitalist aspects as he uses power to get what he wants to achieve wealth in the competition.

3) Come up with two examples of media texts. Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

• News stories focussing on ‘feral youth’/hoodies etc.

The children from poorer backgrounds are shown to be threats to the middle class. These children are assumed to be products of poor backgrounds but their poverty is rarely considered as a causal factor to their behaviour. The class itself is blamed without identifying that the class is a by-product of the capitalist economic structure.

• 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 – the programme does, however, identify that some products are more valid than others for social acceptance.

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.

• show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass Roger is needy for more wealth as he's pay rise gets low to 30 grand, which frustrates him as he think its too low of amount of money.

  
  

• Show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’  The slips that were given to everyone in street that Roger and Pertunia live in.

  
  

• Show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea  The idea that the older generation are fit to be bosses and managers of big companies but as we see in Capital, they have no idea what Matt (young gentleman) is talking about in their business.

  
  

• Show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’ Quentina getting a better opportunity as that what the audience want.

  
  

• Show that being a member of the mass is a good thing  Being apart of the higher hierarchy in the capitalist society is seen as a good thing as you are not defined as 'poor' since when Roger gets his pay check that he gets anxious and shouts, "What's the use of 30 grand?".

  
  

• Show the masses accepting the values of the power elite.  The lower/middle class are accepting the fact that they aren't the most riches and live in the hands of people with higher power than them.

• Show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant)  The lawyer of Quentina is advising her to wait until she gets accepted as a legal member of British society but really she will send her back even though Quentina has specified that she will be raped and killed if she goes back to her home country.