Tv capital applying marxism

Our TV drama texts give us a great opportunity to apply Marxist theories such as Gramsci's hegemony.

However, Marxist theory goes much further than we've covered in lessons - and it's important that we learn the background to Marxism and explore the different ways we can apply it to a range of media texts.

Applying Marxism: blog task

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\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxism suggests that power is held by minority  which they use to control everyone and the majority type of people are working to make a living.

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

The apprentice is a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values because the show shows how one character has all the power and control which is shown by character of alan sugar.

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'.)

'Only Fools and Horses' - A show which focuses on two brothers and their granddad who live a working class life, they are seen to struggle but their humour and attitude towards it is seen as quite likeable and makes people want to have a much more positive attitude towards issues like that. 

'Rich House Poor House' - Channel 5 show where a poor family swaps houses and lives with a rich family and vice versa. It highlights the struggle the poor family goes through and makes some people crave a better lifestyle. 

'Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole' - Another channel 5 documentary that focuses on working class people on benefits. Exposes the harsh reality of what it's like to live on benefits and how tough having a working class background can be for some people.

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 apply 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.

In my opinion the way they represent the character of quetina is very much showing how they are reinforcing capitalist as they show how she is being forced  to live in poverty.

Complete this for homework - due next Friday.