Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks

1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?

Capital features a left-wing ideology via the Kamaal family - Illustrate love and affection towards each other. Also through times such as when Roger, Lother and Mark were having a meeting, Mark was explaining the issues of the company, Roger and Lother had no idea of what he was talking about, which suggests bankers and the super rich are being seen as incompetent and clueless - essentially demonising the wealthy.

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?

"It started with such a brilliant display, but by the finish we were left staring at the proverbial damp squib" - I don't agree with this as the don't take into account how the different narratives strands have their own representations and pleasures.

"But that concept went nowhere. The residents were bemused, but not scared." - this shows that the article misses out how Capital reinforces left-wing views as this shows how the different societies don;t get along with each other in a capitalist community.

"Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary." - I agree with this as it shows how Capital presents strong left-wing views through the Kamal family.

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

The scene where the Kamaal family are eating together and were showing love and affectation to each other can be seen as left-wing, also when Mr Kamaal had 'spared some coriander for a customer' (customer being Arabella).4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?

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

The aerial shots of London demonstrates power and dominance (power and dominance of London being the status quo - normalised) , which essentially supports hegemony (how the elite class maintain control. We also see through Roger and his wife how an upper-middle class family deals with living amongst refugees and immigrant families. This inevitably displays the divide between right and left wing ideologies in Capital.


1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

In terms of representation of power in society, Marxism deals with social and economic power relationships and have been influential in economics, politics and sociology. Marxism tells us that power is contained by only a select right-wing few.

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

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'.)


The Sun - targets immigrants
Labour ad campaigns - celebrates working class
Bob the Builder - childrens show makes the life of a builder seem magical, in reality - it's not.

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.

Capital, in my opinion, perfectly show how left wing and right wing ideologies can co-exist in one society. On one road you have a banker who things £30k is disgusting for a bonus and Qwentina puts in a lot more effort in her job than Roger and gets very little money and gets harrassed. Through the Kamal family the happy side of socialism is shown through a left-wing tinted pair of glasses however we are yet to understand that their business, their butter and bread is run on the simple ideas of capitalism.

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

Rowling heavily promotes left-wing values by ridiculing the wealthier residents and shaming them for their
plot to sell off the local food bank and rehab centre Sweet love House. 

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

the article states: "the characters are cut from plywood. the plot is nonsense and the left wing breast-beating in unbearable"

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

The Mail research shows that the BBC Director of Television is a member of Rowlings charity, Lumos. This creates a sense of bias as they are basing friendship over talent and success in a 'risky business'

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?

Dominant ideologies are ideologies or beliefs that we live by in our day-to-day lives + often do not question them. - they have become natural, common sense. This could therefore be easily applied to the Daily Mail or the BBC as they are superior and have a high level of control amongst persuading audiences of media.