Marxism and hegemony

 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?

The review references the show to "Jeremy Corbyns" diary and accuses it of being politically charged. I somewhat agree

"That’s not a whodunnit, it’s a cop-out."  "Honestly, you’ll get rid of your family after Christmas faster than this feeble drama departed." 

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

Capital potrays middle class as being inherently bad as a whole, and lower classes as good.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?
As an audience we may feel compelled to sympathise with roger, a middle classed white man. This may reinforce right wing ideals

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 is hoarded by the wealthy elite who use their means of production to exploit the proleteriat 

2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?
Lord sugar is the apprentices masters, and they all depend on him for livelihood while he hoards the means of production 
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 TV show The Simpsons portrays the struggles of a working-class family in a humorous way, but some of the situations they face can feel exaggerated and unrealistic. This may make it seem like the show is turning the working-class lifestyle into something to be looked at for entertainment, making their hardships seem more like a spectacle for the audience to enjoy.

Similarly, the jerry springer show amously showcased working-class people with outrageous, often exaggerated stories, creating drama and fights between guests. The show picked individuals who were less educated and often acted in extreme ways, which allowed the audience to laugh at their behavior. In doing so, it presented the working class in a way that made them seem like a source of entertainment, turning their struggles into something to be mocked and judged.

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.

Quentina is punished simply for attempting to make a livlihood out of her conditions. The state serves as the capitilist reinforcers of inequality, not hesitating the exploit the proleteriat such as quentina.