Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks

 Task 1: 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?

In the review of Capital, Quentina is mentioned who is a hard worker who understands that she is not allowed to work yet works anyways which suggests that she is determined to pay her way and not "touch a penny of benefits" which reflects a left-wing ideology as she is trying to achieve social equality.

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?

"It started with such a brilliant display, but by the finish we were left staring at the proverbial damp squib."

"Honestly, you’ll get rid of your family after Christmas faster than this feeble drama departed."

"Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary."

I would agree with the criticisms as towards the starty Capital introduced all the characters in an amusing way and created many hooks which captured the readers audience for example the drama within Arabella and Rogers life and the post cards that the main characters receive on a day to day basic. However towards the ending there was nothing interesting as it mainly involved the quarrels of the failing relationship between Arabella and Roger.

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

Quentina working late/over night shifts in order to make additional money. The polish builders who want to generate social equality by working hard and paving their way.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?

Some examples of characters that reinforce the right wing ideology would be the German banker and the middleman who provides Quentina a payment for her work. The German banker can be seen as a capitalist as he does not care about his employees as seen in one scene where him and Roger are listening to a younger employee and do not understand or do not try to understand him. This suggests that both Roger and the German banker are only in the business for a profit which contrasts a left wing ideology. For the middleman, He only pays Quentina a portion of what she is suppose to receive supporting his decision by saying "I have raised my commission". This goes against the left wing ideology as instead of supporting Quentina by offering her the full amount of what shes worth he asks her for a kiss instead in order to receive a partial amount.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxism suggests that within society power is mostly held by a minority (the elite) who had access to a large amount of capital which could be reinvested inorder to generate more wealth essentially making this elite richer keeping the poor poor.

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

The factsheet suggests that The Apprentice is a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies as it reveals that the fact that Sugar has all the power links to the "elite" ruling or a "superior" position of the capitalist elite. Sugar has power as he has used the system inorder to generate wealth for himself. Moreover, the ideology of a "false consciousness" is revealled in the factsheet, this ideology is constructed as people believe that they are hard working and free but they are actually under this illusion and are controlled by the elite.

3) Come up with two examples of media texts  that either fetishise working class life or demonise working class life or poor people. Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

The pursuit of happiness.

This movie I believe demonises the working class, this is because the main character is a father and his wife left him due to the crippling amount of bills they had due to a lack of resources/money so she moved elsewhere to make more money. The father begged for his son to stay and the mother granted this wish. The main character tried to make ends meet by selling a medical device which he invested a lot of money into and one device breaks but he manages to fix it and sell it to pay off a month worth of rent. This however left him with no money and after a month he was nearly kicked out of his home and he had to sleep in a toilet with his son with the door locked. One day he strolled past a man in a fancy car and asked him how he earned that car and the man told him he was a broker. The father then studied hard and passed a very hard test and was one of the best and then become successful. This movie focuses more on a capitalistic viewpoint as the main character works hard to earn his wealth and stability.

8 Mile.

This movie both supports and contrasts the working class. The main character (Eminem) struggles to make ends meet and he lives in a trailer with his mother. He has a passion for rap and wants to become an artist but paying for a studio to record is expensive. He works paycheck to paycheck at a car metal factory but one day he gets a lucky break and wins a famous underground rap battle and becomes the "king of rap". This leads him to get record deals and this is how he became successful. This supports the idea of the working class as Eminem slaved day in and day out to make ends meet however he clutched and pulled it all together and become a hit.

4) Look at the bullet points on page 4 of the factsheet:

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.

• show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass

-Capital challenges this idea as seen by Roger who contributes nothing to society but instead wastes millions on his property and assets.

• show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised

idea

-Roger and the German banker looking at London through their windows while everyone slaves away for little to no money ie Quentina yet Roger gets bonuses worth millions.

• show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’

-Quentina getting deported is not right and it suggests that the power elite lack any morals or care at all.

-This is challenged by Roger as when he receives a 30k bonus he panics and says "what good is 30 thousand" however this is most peoples average salaries.

• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing

-Capital suggests that we live in a society but more importantly a community that cares, this can be seen in the Kamal family where Ahmed gives Arabella free coriander.

• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite

-No strikes occur in Capital but more importantly Roger travels through the tube everyday and is unbothered meaning a lack of care from society regarding his elite wealth.

• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the

masses’ (even when unpleasant)

-Capital challenges this as the elite (German Banker, Rogert etc) provide nothing for society