Ideology: MM reading on ideology and the wider media
Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda
1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article talks about how ideologies of Panem and the Capitol are manipulated by the use of the media and propaganda.
2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?
In the dystopian society of Panem, there are 13 districts that exist where poor people reside; these people struggle to survive on small amounts of food, while they work to provide power,coal,technology and food for the Capitol where the wealthy people live. Every year, two children from each district are sent to partake in the Hunger Games in order to keep the districts under control as a punishment for previous rebellions and to warn them not to go against the Capitol.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
The film uses the media to broadcast every aspect of the games every year which acts as a reminder to the people of the districts that they shouldn't go against the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen uses the media to her advantage in order to inform the other districts the truth about the Capitol and that is it the time to come and stand together against the Capitol.
Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology
1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article discusses the concept of ideology, what it means, related concept of hegemony and the works of key theorists.
2) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?
Gramsci defined hegemony as an important way in which those in power maintain their control through consent, rather than force. The power of ideology derives primarily from ideas and structures that support the elite social group which helps them dominate society. He believes that ideology is more suited to the elite class as they control the economy and major institutions.
4) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?
He believes that ideology is the greatest power of control and dominates our day to day lives through Repressive State Control and Ideological State Apparatuses. Repressive State Control is the dominant elite ruling over society using major institutions like the Government or Army through violence, punitive law and fear. Where as, Ideological State Apparatuses is when Church, educational institutions and the family unit control and dominate through 'common sense' and social norms rather than fear; it refers to Gramsci's theory of hegemony where ideology's power derives primarily from consent than force. These forms of control manipulate consumers into spending their money on things that are not needed which benefits the elite group who control huge production corporations.
5) 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 agree to some extent because people are manipulated to think that they are in control of their own lives and have that 'individuality' but are actually being controlled by the media and influenced to buy certain things or to act in a certain way. I do also believe that as the media has become more accessible to consumers, they now have control to create their own media products which reflects their own views and not the views being forced upon them by the elite group. I think that the more that people consume the media, the faster they will realise that the media is controlled by the elite/rich group and that is is their views being portrayed and that they are being manipulated/ persuaded by them.
1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article talks about how ideologies of Panem and the Capitol are manipulated by the use of the media and propaganda.
2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?
In the dystopian society of Panem, there are 13 districts that exist where poor people reside; these people struggle to survive on small amounts of food, while they work to provide power,coal,technology and food for the Capitol where the wealthy people live. Every year, two children from each district are sent to partake in the Hunger Games in order to keep the districts under control as a punishment for previous rebellions and to warn them not to go against the Capitol.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
The film uses the media to broadcast every aspect of the games every year which acts as a reminder to the people of the districts that they shouldn't go against the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen uses the media to her advantage in order to inform the other districts the truth about the Capitol and that is it the time to come and stand together against the Capitol.
Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology
1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article discusses the concept of ideology, what it means, related concept of hegemony and the works of key theorists.
2) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?
- People should put their families first
- People should work hard for their money
- Women should behave in feminine ways, and look after their appearance.
- Good should overcome evil
Gramsci defined hegemony as an important way in which those in power maintain their control through consent, rather than force. The power of ideology derives primarily from ideas and structures that support the elite social group which helps them dominate society. He believes that ideology is more suited to the elite class as they control the economy and major institutions.
4) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?
He believes that ideology is the greatest power of control and dominates our day to day lives through Repressive State Control and Ideological State Apparatuses. Repressive State Control is the dominant elite ruling over society using major institutions like the Government or Army through violence, punitive law and fear. Where as, Ideological State Apparatuses is when Church, educational institutions and the family unit control and dominate through 'common sense' and social norms rather than fear; it refers to Gramsci's theory of hegemony where ideology's power derives primarily from consent than force. These forms of control manipulate consumers into spending their money on things that are not needed which benefits the elite group who control huge production corporations.
5) 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 agree to some extent because people are manipulated to think that they are in control of their own lives and have that 'individuality' but are actually being controlled by the media and influenced to buy certain things or to act in a certain way. I do also believe that as the media has become more accessible to consumers, they now have control to create their own media products which reflects their own views and not the views being forced upon them by the elite group. I think that the more that people consume the media, the faster they will realise that the media is controlled by the elite/rich group and that is is their views being portrayed and that they are being manipulated/ persuaded by them.
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