Applying Marxism: blog task

1.

What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

It suggests that power is held by a minority; the type of people that work hard for their money and they use this minority to control everyone. 

2.

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

Because they use Lord Alan Sugar who is a billionaire who keeps striving for more and more and is a hardworking entrepreneur who's main aim is to keep investing and increasing his profits. Another reason would be because a group of people are competing to win money to expand their business. 

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'.)

Only Fools and Horses - Being working class offers a range of positive experiences regardless of the hardship and economic deprivation. 

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 apply 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.

The characters in capital reinforces stereotypes in London and also shows diversity. Roger who is a banker is a lot on the capitalist side as him and his wife seem to be very driven by money and his main focus is to make more and more money and live a rich lifestyle. The Kamal's show family lifestyle and also show how migrants are now socially accepted in London.