TV: Capital- Marxism and 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?
The daily mail suggests that Capital features a left-wing ideology through the character of Quentina. She is the hardest worker on the street of Pepys Road and is an illegal immigrant, determined to pay her way and not seek any help from the government or gain benefits. Through her character we see how illegal immigrants who are conventionally negatively stereotyped  in relation to  right wing perspectives, subvert such stereotypes thus, proving to be hard working and appreciative in what they do.

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?

• "Everything British came in for a dose of loathing"- To an extent yes. Capital constructs a negative representation of white upper middle class individuals in London in particular, Bankers. Through the character of Roger, we visualise how arrogant and careless the super rich citizens of London are.
•  "though she did find time to teach English to some of her fellow saints at the detention centre."- This quote suggests how the Daily Mail (being heavily towards right wing ideology) are mocking illegal immigrants or immigrants who are waiting for their decision to be made. 
• "But that concept went nowhere."- This is a fair criticism. This is because after finding out that Usman was behind the postcards, that was it, it ended there not to forget the disappointing ending where we do not see what consequences Usman faced for his immoral acts.

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

The scene in episode 1 when Roger, Lother and Mark are having a meeting in an office, promotes left-wing ideology. This is because the Lother (the german boss) can be seen as quite incompetent which also fits in with the way Roger is portrayed. As we see through Mark's character who represents a young, smart individual who clearly knows what he is doing, the senior members of the company (Roger and Lother) have no clue as to what Mark utters and so to the audience they come across as quite arrogant which promotes Left Wing ideology of the demonetisation of bankers.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?

However, to an extent, it can also be argued that there are aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London. This can be seen in the scene just spoken about above. Roger quotes "work hard, play hard". This portrays bankers in a positive light as they are seen to be very hard working so that they can provide for their families which in turn, subverts Left Wing ideology. Also the shot of the computer screens just as Roger walks into work, suggests that one must be very intelligent and resilient to be able to work in this industry and also gives an insight into the work that Roger does. 

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxists suggest that power is held by a minority (the elite and the bourgeoisie) who has access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth. The majority of the population (the proletariat) are exploited by the bourgeoisie and without the ability to produce for themselves, the mass were dependant on the elite for survival.

2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?
The Apprentice reinforces and supports these values supporting the needs of the economic system we are in. This particular false consciousness obscures the fact that different personality traits have different strengths and those not suited to today’s working climate are rejected. In addition, the ‘rightness’ of capitalism and a desire to
work within businesses where profit is the only motivation is implicit throughout the programme.

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'.)

• Coronation Street- like EastEnders which presents quite a harmonious Northern end community which probably doesn't accurately reflect Northern England
• 
  

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- "Work hard, play hard". The power elite (Roger and the bankers) in capital emphasise this notion of hard work throughout Capital. The fact that Roger is still using his laptop whilst in bed at night, reinforces dominant values of the power elite of hard work which can be seen 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’- The dominant ideology is conveyed throughout Capital to "work hard, play hard" and reinforce the notion of buying a house and providing for your family 
• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing
• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite- Quentina accepting less money than she was expected to receive from the peoples trafficker. (Someone of importance and part of the power elite).
• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant.

Task 3: Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology

Finally, 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.




Answer the questions below:

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

The Daily Mail have suggested very explicitly that in broadcasting the drama the BBC has broken its own impartiality guidelines, and implicitly gave support to the Labour Party just two and a half months before the 2015 General Election.They argue, was a deliberate plot. In their view, BBC executives, commissioners, programme-makers and scriptwriters all have an inherent left-wing bias and this is reflected in most of its output.

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

The characters promote left wing ideology by mocking the working class and reproducing equality

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


The fact that casual vacancy was aired a few months before the general election allowing them to put down the Torys and bring about bias and stereotypes towards the conservatives which would affect the votes and opinion of the viewer.

In a Mail article entitled ‘Is the BBC too cosy with J. K. Rowling?’, not only was The Casual Vacancy shown outside the Purdah period, it is a fictional drama. At no point does any character explicitly state a political allegiance, or mention any specific Labour party policy, for example the mansion tax.

I think the BBC is not biased. This is because they produce both left and right wing content and so it is balanced.

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?

Gramsci theory is that people are being controlled by active consent he believes that there is a dominance of one class linking to Marxism which can be seen within the BBC or daily mail as they have coercive and biased new reports as they battle out for one-sided arguments and can sway the viewer or readers opinion towards the dominant ideology in the UK.