TV: Capital - Marxism and Hegemony

Capital is a state-of-the-nation drama. Applying theories such as Marxism and hegemony to Capital allows us to explore the political contexts of the text.

The notes from the lesson are here:

Marxism

In Britain and Europe, Marxist approaches were common amongst media theorists from the late 1960s until around the early 1980s, and Marxist influences, though less dominant, remain widespread.

Marxist theorists tend to emphasize the role of the mass media in maintaining the status quo, suggesting power is concentrated in the hands of a narrow elite.

Marxism v pluralism

The main non-Marxist tradition is that of liberal pluralism. Pluralists see society as consisting of competing groups and interests, none of them predominant all of the time.

In contrast, Marxists view capitalist society as being one of class domination; the media are seen to promote hegemonic ideology and ensure the dominance of certain classes; ultimate control is increasingly concentrated in wealthy corporations/media conglomerates; media professionals, while enjoying the illusion of autonomy, are socialized into and internalize the norms of the dominant culture.

Gramsci: hegemony

Hegemony derives from the Greek term hēgemonia (“dominance over”). Italian philosopher and Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci used the term hegemony to describe the dominance of one social class over others – i.e. how the ruling class or elite maintain control. 

This represents not only political and economic control, but also the ability of the dominant class to project its own way of seeing the world so that those who are controlled by it accept it as 'common sense' and 'natural'. Commentators stress that this involves willing and active consent.


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?

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?

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

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


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 two 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'.) Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

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.

Complete for homework: due date on Google Classroom.

Optional extension: Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology

If you'd like to further understand Marxism, Hegemony and the media, go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.



After you've read the article, think about or write answers to the questions below:

1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?

2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?

3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?

4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?