Ideology

Part 1: Media Magazine reading

Media Magazine issue 52 has two good articles on Ideology. You need to read those articles (our Media Magazine archive is here) and complete a few short tasks linked to them. 

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

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.

The Hunger Games is a powerful piece of media showcasing the binary opposition between rich vs poor.

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

The working class provides all the hard work needed for the upper class/wealthy people to survive.

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

The media can be used as a tool to show audiences preferred ideological beliefs and spread them efficiently; there's a mass amount of (wealthy) people who believe letting the poor kill each other for entertainment isn't evil/bad.

4) What is YOUR opinion on this topic? Do you think the media shapes our values and beliefs?

In my opinion, I believe the media can shape our values and beliefs, but not all of it. Sure, we may be able to pick up stuff from the media and apply it to ourselves and daily life, but we don't do it for every single thing showcased in the media. We tend to look at things with just a little bit of scepticism; if we believed everything we see on the media it'd be really easy to control people as a collective identity. There's also something to consider with values and beliefs we've gained as we've developed; obviously, the media is not responsible for all of this, but rather the people in our lives, such as our friends and family.

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

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

Money = Happiness
Consumer goods = Fulfilment
Marriage/Family/Children = Happiness
Obedience/Work= Fulfilment

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

Gramsci's theory suggest that we are made to believe certain things are good for us so the elite class can hold power over us. The ideologies they share with us are usually normalized, however they can be challenged sometimes.

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

His view was that ideology is the greatest material power and dominates our day to day lives through two key forms of control: 1, Repressive State Control, where major institutions of society, like the government or police, are dominated through the ruling elite and try to suppress our free will. 2, Ideological State Apparatuses, such as the media and schools, control and dominate through "common sense" ideologies mainly. Through this, he suggests our ideology is greatly controlled along with our enthusiasm for consumerism.

4) 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? These are the big questions of A Level Media!

Debatable. As I've mentioned time and time again, audiences aren't just braindead, they do view stuff with a slight tinge of scepticism. But then again, media companies and products have showed to try and steer us towards the path that they want subliminally.

Part 2: The role of the media in democracy

Read this Constitution Unit blog on the importance of media in democracy. This brings together our work on ownership, public service broadcasting, regulation and ideology. Answer the following questions:

1) Why is the media important in a democracy? 

The media is important in a democracy as it educates, informs, and entertains the masses though things like news, opinion, analysis, satire and drama.

2) What are the hallmarks of a free and healthy media landscape?

A free and healthy media requires several features, including media independence, pluralism, the existence of impartial outlets, and high journalistic standards.

3) What risks are identified that threaten a healthy media environment? 

There are certain risks involved that threaten a healthy media environment. Some of which include:
- Threats to broadcaster impartiality
- Threats to media independence
- Polarising content
- Weakened local and investigatory reporting
- Disinformation and misinformation
- Monopolies

4) What is YOUR opinion on how the media can be safeguarded to protect democracy? You may want to think about ownership, regulation, technology or public service broadcasting here.

In my opinion, the media should have laws and regulations in place to make sure opinions don't get silenced and people say what they want. The biggest concern in media is censorship, and what the big corporations don't want you to see. That in of itself is unfair and doesn't allow for free speech, whether from people big or small. Everyone deserves a voice to be heard.

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