Ideology: further reading and tasks

MM52

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

1) Read the article

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

The capitalist ideas portrayed are the powerful beings at the top and the poor at the bottom. People with the money retain all the money and also retain the control of the districts and the power. Whereas the poor have to break laws to get through life and succumb to those in power. This is the biggest issues regarding capitalism as many are left suffering due to no jobs. This isn't fair on those that cannot work or cannot get a job. This me\ans that the top 1% have all of the money and live in luxury and the rest work to survive and live tough lives. 

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

The media seems to be able to control the way people think by reinforcing certain ideas repeatedly until they become ingrained into society and are accepted as normal. This means that the people with the power, who are in charge of the media, can spread ideals that they want to be relevant and influence the masses, which is a typical use of hegemony. This directly links into capitalism and the way society functions. If there is a strong belief ingrained into the society that the media is always factually, morally correct and informal, people will listen and this will in turn allow people to be easily influenced and believe whatever the media feeds them.


Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology
1) Read the article

2) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?

The 4 accepted ideological beliefs in western society highlighted in the article include, money leading to happiness, buying goods equal fulfilment, marriage family and children cause happiness, and obedience and hard work equal fulfilment.

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

In Gramsci's theory of hegemony he states the ideology about power in our society comes from the structures that support the people at the top and that it enables the people with power to gain more power.

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

Althusser says states that institutions have an elite influence behind them and they also influence people within the institutions that seem to be morally correct such as the church to influence people about morals and certain behaviours.

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? 

Yes I do agree with the fact that we are all controlled by the media and accept certain ideologies without thinking. As there seems to be an underlying message throughout every marketing campaign, this is because they want to reinforce social norms, making everyone maintain the same ideologies.. The people at the top control the people beneath them, establishing a social hierarchy dictated on the amount of wealth you have, meaning  the more money you have, the more power you have.