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?



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?

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

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

Roger and his work within central London and lothar as a character and immigrant who found a way to orodper


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 the minority 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 which he can use to create wealth in others reinforces the superior position of the capitalist elite with the contestants being dependent on him for their survival in the show 

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.
  • The sun often publishes stories that demonize working-class people, especially those in poverty or on benefits
  • Superstores primary focus is on working class individuals working in retail 
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 “WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE” campaign is a mysterious and creepy protest against the rich homeowners, but it’s never really explained. Since it has no clear message, it feels more like a random threat than a proper challenge to capitalism, making any form of rebellion look weak and pointless.The whole show makes it seem like rich people deserve to be rich. Roger complains about his job, but the idea that bankers should get huge bonuses is never seriously questioned. The rising house prices push out old residents, but this is treated as just the way things are rather than something that should be stopped.



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