Marxism
In Britain and Europe, Marxist approaches were common amongst media theorists from the late 1960s until around the early 1980s, and Marxist influences, though less dominant, remain widespread.
Marxist theorists tend to emphasize the role of the mass media in maintaining the status quo, suggesting power is concentrated in the hands of a narrow elite.
Marxism v pluralism
Gramsci: hegemony
Marxism & hegemony - blog tasks:
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?
It suggests that Capital features a left wing ideology because it highlights how the show goes against typical negative stereotypes such as immigrants - in Capital Quentina (an illegal immigrant) is presented as being hard working and is generally shown in a positive manner.
2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blog post. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?
"Capital started with an intriguing idea...'We want what you have'...But that concept went nowhere...You can be certain it wasn't the plot that attracted the BBC drama department" - I agree largely with this criticism because I also believe that the original concept of Capital was poor and did not go anywhere, the ending was unclear and ended up dragging.
"With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending."
-I agree with this. Even though I think that Capital has contemporary representations of people in society, the storyline wasn't really clear and didn't really have a clear ending.
"The hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant, determined to pay her way and not touch a penny of benefits."
-Critical and sarcastic tone from a right wing writer, critical of left wing ideology.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
Quentina, the immigrant but hard working. The Kamal family, working class and happy family even though not rich. Roger's family, upper class/rich shown to be ignorant and snobby.
4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?
Every character in Capital is more or less hard-working which reinforces status quo of right wing capitalist ideology which contrasts to the Daily Mail view that Capital is left wing.The only person who challenges this hard working capitalist ideology is the man who is exploiting Quentina in the scene where she goes to cash out her money.
Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology
Now go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Daily Mail suggested that The Casual Vacancy promoted a left wing ideology because it ridiculed the wealthier residents and shamed them for their plot to sell off the local food bank and rehab centre Sweetlove House.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The article suggests that characters, narrative and setting are used to promote left wing ideology because certain characters like Barry Fairbrother show their disgust towards the place closing down and gives off his opinion through speeches.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
The research which is quoted regarding BBC bias is "Is the BBC too cosy with J.K.Rowling".
4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?
The Daily Mail and BBC could be applied to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media as the DM promotes and supports right wing ideologies which means they support the elite and the idea that hard work leads to well earned success.This elaborates on the idea that they believe that the elite have control as in essence being rich equates to being powerful.The Daily Mail puts across the idea of being against left wing ideologies and this shows conflict between people's views. The BBC could be seen as controlling through their dominance in media, they are also more civilised and show show that aren't biased to left wing or right wing ideologies.
In Britain and Europe, Marxist approaches were common amongst media theorists from the late 1960s until around the early 1980s, and Marxist influences, though less dominant, remain widespread.
Marxist theorists tend to emphasize the role of the mass media in maintaining the status quo, suggesting power is concentrated in the hands of a narrow elite.
The main non-Marxist tradition is that of liberal pluralism. Pluralists see society as consisting of competing groups and interests, none of them predominant all of the time.
In contrast, Marxists view capitalist society as being one of class domination; the media are seen to promote hegemonic ideology and ensure the dominance of certain classes; ultimate control is increasingly concentrated in wealthy corporations/media conglomerates; media professionals, while enjoying the illusion of autonomy, are socialized into and internalize the norms of the dominant culture.
Gramsci used the term hegemony to describe the dominance of one social class over others – i.e. how the ruling class or elite maintain control.
This represents not only political and economic control, but also the ability of the dominant class to project its own way of seeing the world so that those who are controlled by it accept it as 'common sense' and 'natural'. Commentators stress that this involves willing and active consent.Marxism & hegemony - blog tasks:
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?
It suggests that Capital features a left wing ideology because it highlights how the show goes against typical negative stereotypes such as immigrants - in Capital Quentina (an illegal immigrant) is presented as being hard working and is generally shown in a positive manner.
2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blog post. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?
"Capital started with an intriguing idea...'We want what you have'...But that concept went nowhere...You can be certain it wasn't the plot that attracted the BBC drama department" - I agree largely with this criticism because I also believe that the original concept of Capital was poor and did not go anywhere, the ending was unclear and ended up dragging.
"With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending."
-I agree with this. Even though I think that Capital has contemporary representations of people in society, the storyline wasn't really clear and didn't really have a clear ending.
"The hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant, determined to pay her way and not touch a penny of benefits."
-Critical and sarcastic tone from a right wing writer, critical of left wing ideology.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
Quentina, the immigrant but hard working. The Kamal family, working class and happy family even though not rich. Roger's family, upper class/rich shown to be ignorant and snobby.
4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?
Every character in Capital is more or less hard-working which reinforces status quo of right wing capitalist ideology which contrasts to the Daily Mail view that Capital is left wing.The only person who challenges this hard working capitalist ideology is the man who is exploiting Quentina in the scene where she goes to cash out her money.
Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology
Now go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Daily Mail suggested that The Casual Vacancy promoted a left wing ideology because it ridiculed the wealthier residents and shamed them for their plot to sell off the local food bank and rehab centre Sweetlove House.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The article suggests that characters, narrative and setting are used to promote left wing ideology because certain characters like Barry Fairbrother show their disgust towards the place closing down and gives off his opinion through speeches.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
The research which is quoted regarding BBC bias is "Is the BBC too cosy with J.K.Rowling".
4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?
The Daily Mail and BBC could be applied to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media as the DM promotes and supports right wing ideologies which means they support the elite and the idea that hard work leads to well earned success.This elaborates on the idea that they believe that the elite have control as in essence being rich equates to being powerful.The Daily Mail puts across the idea of being against left wing ideologies and this shows conflict between people's views. The BBC could be seen as controlling through their dominance in media, they are also more civilised and show show that aren't biased to left wing or right wing ideologies.
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