Ideology

 Part 1: BBC Question Time analysis

Watch 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?

Capitalism vs Libertarianism

Rich vs Poor 

2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

 Liberationist ideologies that working class citizens are being hit the hardest and people should help them.

Part 2: Media Magazine reading

Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

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

Marxist theories can be applied to this as the upper class rule and dominate the lives of the working class, and those with that power control ideas and resources, the President keeps them in line by spreading fear using propaganda and the media.

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

That the upper class are in control of all the money and resources, and dictate the working class who have to work for it.

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

The media use propaganda to drive fear into the people and to maintain power and control. 

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) 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

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

Hegemony is a way in which people with power maintain and control it through consent rather than force. He argues that the power of ideology comes from ideas and structures which serve and support the elite to rule with ideas rather than militaristic strength and fear.

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

That we should buy more goods and consume as much as you can, and that material wealth makes us happy.

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 partially agree that we are unthinkingly controlled by the media and that this definitely is done to run in the interest of the economic elite. This is because many people passively consume the media, taking in things which have no significance to them, this allows companies to make profit as these passive audiences constantly use their products. However, there are audiences who are active and pick and choose what they want to see, also challenging what the see.