Marxism & hegemony

 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?

It suggests capital is a left wing ideology due to its social issues and class struggle 

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?

1.The last 20 minutes contained no plot. Whatever story there had ever been was over. We just watched all the characters saying goodbye to each other, I agree with this criticism as it ends with a slow pace and I wanted more action or resolution

2.Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary, I mostly agree as crobyns diary is just filled with social issues but it depends on how you portray them in the series

3.Everything British came in for a dose of loathing,I agree as in capital everything British is seen negatively like the banker Roger 

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

Roger can be seen as left wing as it shows the criticism of the financial elite and the inequalities 

Another scene is the immigrant family at dinner showing how they struggle with their everyday lives 

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

Some aspects are shown by wealthy people that are self made individuals can be seen as stable and taking on their own responsibilities 

It also talks about the benefits of economic growth and innovation

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Power was held by a minority the elite who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth 

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

Because there is one person with all the power reinforces the superior capitalist elite 

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.

One example is reality tv, they show working class neighbourhoods and how hard it is for them to become wealthy

Another example is soap opras like coronation street as it also shows working class neighbourhoods and their everyday lives 

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

In analysing Capital through a Marxist lens, several of the bullet points from the factsheet can be applied to the text. Here’s how they relate to the setting, characters and narrative strands are particularly in episode 1

Show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass as The character of Roger Yount, as a wealthy banker, often justifies his actions by claiming that his financial success contributes to job creation and economic growth. This representation suggests that the elite's wealth is ultimately beneficial for everyone, reinforcing capitalist ideals.

Overall, Capital tends to reinforce the values of capitalism by depicting the elite in a favourable light while framing the struggles of the working class as personal or natural issues. The show presents a complex interaction between these classes, but it often aligns more with the perspectives of the power elite than with a critical challenge to capitalism.