Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks

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1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?


It suggests that Capital is a left wing ideology because it says "Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary."

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 last 20 minutes contained no plot."
"But that concept went nowhere."
"That’s not a whodunnit, it’s a cop-out."

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

The scene where Roger is discussing with the banker. Roger and German banker has no idea what superiors are doing, creates left wing ideology.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?

Capital can be viewed as right wing since mostly everyone works for their own money.


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?



2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?

3) Come up with three 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'.)

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.

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