Ideology

Video



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

From here we can see many ideologies. Rich vs Poor which is reinforced when they are talking about wages. Homed vs Homeless which is shown by the housing debate. National vs Immigrant showsn by Farage's rant about controlling numbers. Capitalism vs Socialism and that's shown by the contrast between Brand and Farage.

2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

We can see anti-immigrant ideologies here from Farage as he explains that the less able and non-British residents are the main cause for the UK's steep decline in the quality of life of the nation. 

The dominant ideology of how Farage is a racist and gets away with scapegoating reinforces the divide between capitalists and socialists. The disabled man shows how people that Farage targets can also be blind to his discrimination and therefore provides an alternative ideology.

Finally, we can see how the working class has been hit the hardest by immigration. The dominant ideology that they 'take all our jobs' could be applied here as they have caused tension within the communities and of course, taken up some jobs.

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

It displays a big divide between the power of the rich and poor.

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

Using Marxist theories here, we can see how the working class is kept under control by 'peacekeepers' which show how the top people in the media think that poor people aren't as good as rich people/

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

The powerful, rich people still hold power, even if the working class think they have some - they don't have any at all.

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

the hegemonic view is that money will bring happiness and a fulfilled life - the producer conveys that we all blindly follow this rule.

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

 Money = Happiness
• Consumer goods = Fulfilment
• Marriage/Family/Children = Happiness
• Obedience/Work= Fulfilment

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

People with power maintain their position through consent, not through 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.

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

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 which is through major institutions such as banks or the government - making the public scared of their power and control and ‘Ideological State Apparatuses’ through schools and hospitals which drives society for change 

5) 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 think that is mostly true. The media are everywhere and even when we don;t think we are being targeted by adverts, we are. The media wants to know more about its audience so that they can make products which are more likely to sell. 

We are approached with the idea of self-identity a=but we are only scratching the surface of the constructed personality the media had made for us - even  if we thought we made and developed it ourselves.