Ideology
Blog tasks: Ideology
Part 1: BBC Question Time analysisWatch this clip from BBC Question Time with Russell Brand and Nigel Farage. The BBC deliberately placed the two against each other and the episode resulted in far more people than usual watching and reacting on social media.
1) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?
Conservative and liberal values, hate and love, support and neglect.
2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?
Conservative, liberal, socialist, immigration restriction.
Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.
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.
To summarise, Mockingjay can be enjoyed as a ‘just a film’ in its own right, or a satirical comment on our own.
2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?
Conservative, liberal, socialist, immigration restriction.
Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.
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.
To summarise, Mockingjay can be enjoyed as a ‘just a film’ in its own right, or a satirical comment on our own.
2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?
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.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
It illustrates how the media has quite a large role to play in how things can be presented. It also shows how the media can influence individuals to unite under common principles and beliefs while also being able to develop ideas that are easily able to spread throughout the population.
-Money is happiness
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.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
It illustrates how the media has quite a large role to play in how things can be presented. It also shows how the media can influence individuals to unite under common principles and beliefs while also being able to develop ideas that are easily able to spread throughout the population.
Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology
1) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?-Money is happiness
-Consumer goods is fulfilment
-Marriage/family/children equals happiness
-Work is fulfilment
2) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?
Gramsci 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?
He suggests that 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 Apparatuses’ (RSAs) through the major institutions of society – the Government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. – which are dominated by the ruling elite. He suggested that state agencies regulate social behaviour and repress the masses through violence, punitive law, and fear.
He suggests that 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 Apparatuses’ (RSAs) through the major institutions of society – the Government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. – which are dominated by the ruling elite. He suggested that 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.
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 do somehow believe this because majority of the media is now digital which means multiple people have access to it. This could also mean that some people may see something that has been highly emphasized and will eventually choose to believe it, 'unthinkingly controlled'. Most of the time is happens without any realization.
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