Blog tasks: Ideology

 Part 1: BBC Question Time analysis

https://youtu.be/R7i-JIw1zig

1) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?

-rich and poor

the middle class and working class

-a comedians view against a politicians views

2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

Conservative and liberalism views is seen in this clip. In this video slip we see them arguing over the beliefs of overpopulation and migration and their different views on it. They are both stubborn on there views and points even though some of there points don't make much sense,it shows a lack of understanding for other peoples believes. it also shows how different peoples believes are as Russel brand is a comedian and Nigel Farage is an politician. 

Part 2: Media Magazine reading

Media Magazine issue 52 has two good articles on Ideology. You need to read those articles (our Media Magazine archive is here) and complete a few short tasks linked to them. 

Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.

In this article it anaylises the dystopian representation of capitalist society in the latest Hunger Games film and the series as whole, drawing attention to elements where media theory can be most usefully applied.

2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?

The world is caught under the dictatorship of President Snow, a man who believes more in his own supreme leadership than the people of his country. every one lives under his control which has most the population living under poor conditions (minimum wage,minimum food. this forces the population too do illegal things so they can provide for there family whist at a risk they will get caught this leaves them in a bad position as if they are too get caught they will be punished badly.

3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?

that the world is stuck under the dictatorship of the president. the way he is presented he owns the people which is seen as he makes them play games (hunger games).But there is also a vital ideological element to the way Panem is run; those in power control ideas, as well as resources. The world is caught under the dictatorship of President Snow,a man who believes more in his own supreme leadership than the people of his country. He invests his creativity into The Games, he smells of blood and roses, and he purposefully aims to obliterate any hopes of rebellion.

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?

• People should put their families first.

• People should work hard for their money.

• Women should behave in feminine ways, and look after their appearance.

2) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?

Gransci defined hegemony as an important way in which those in power maintain their control through consent,

rather than the use of force. He argued that the power of ideology derives primarily from ideas and structures which support, and thus serve the purpose of, an elite social group which is able to dominate through ideas, rather than militaristic strength or fear.

3) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?

The French Marxist theorist Louis Althusser offers a way of understanding how we are controlled through ideology.

His view was that ideology is the greatest material power and dominates our day to day lives through two key

forms of control:

1: Repressive State Control, also known as ‘Repressive State Apparatuses’ (RSAs) through the major institutions

of society – the Government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. – which are dominated by the ruling elite. These state agencies regulate social behaviour and repress the masses through violence, punitive law, and fear.

2: ‘Ideological State Apparatuses’ (ISAs), such as the Church, the media, educational institutions, the family unit etc. These looser institutions control and dominate implicitly through ‘common sense’ acceptance and social norms, rather than through fear. This echoes Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, by which ideology’s power derives primarily from consent as opposed to the use of force.

4) Do YOU agree with the idea behind They Live - that we are unthinkingly controlled by the media which is run in the interests of the economic elite? These are the big questions of A Level Media!

i believe that it is easier to control the younger generations as they have grown up with the media so i believe its like an addiction. As if you use something everyday in your day to day live you will need to continue with it as you don't know how to cope without it, however if it inst a big part of your live and you haven't used it daily then its easier to go without it , so in my opinion older generations are less reliant on this. This makes the new generation easy to control as they have grown up with consuming a lot of media the people around them all consume a lot of media so it is a struggle for them not to caught up within that as well as a huge topic of conversation is what is going on it the media. so i believe the people in high places in economic have economic elite power.