MarxisM...
What is Marxism...?
This is the belief that the mass media are a tool used by ruling bodies to maintain hegemonic control over the masses and a class-divided society. This theory is based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher.
Marxist Ideologies
Capitalism is based on the profit motive and that under capitalism; profits are generated by exploiting workers.
Capitalist society is divided into two social classes:
- The working class, or proletariat, who sell their labour and do not own the means of production
- The bourgeoisie, who own the means of production and employ the proletariat, The bourgeoisies may be further subdivided:
Wealthy bourgeoisies who do not also need to work for themselves
Petty bourgeoisie who employ others, but also work themselves
Marxism and the Media
- Media produces produce media texts within this society, which maintain these social divides
- ‘Culture industries’ (as Adorno described) constantly see greater audiences because of the profit motive. Texts are constructed to generate ass audiences, so they dumb down their output.
Althuesser
Identified the Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA):
Religion
Education
Family
Legal and political system
Political system (trade unions)
Cultural and communications systems
He studied how these ISAs position the audience in such a way they presume that there ideologies are correct (interpellate)
Gramsci
He extended this with the concept of hegemony-the dominance of the ideologies of the ruing class, with all the beliefs and values that they incorporate. This process is so successful it becomes ‘common sense’
Why I am a Marxist?
I believe to an extent that society has been divided by the powerful and the inferior, and therefore I may be a Marxist. People like Rupert Murdoch, who owns Sky, Fox, etc are able to exploit their own views and beliefs to the proletariat via the media they own, whilst making money by doing this. Society has been encouraged make money as this will earn them a higher status. This just goes to show that there will always be people working for the bourgeoisie.
posted by Dinni @ 9:15 pm
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