IDEOLOGY AND THE WIDER MEDIA

MIGRAIN: IDEOLOGY AND THE WIDER MEDIA
Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article discusses how the media and propaganda is used to shape ideological views in the society of Panem, which are that of a dystopia.

2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?
Panem consists of the capital city 'The Capitol', where the rich live and 13 districts, where the poor live and whose sole purpose is to serve those in the Capitol. Every district is poor; people struggle to survive on small amounts of food and minimum wages, while they work to provide coal, technology, food, power and other services to the Capitol. This is the norm. Every year the Hunger Games takes place- an event that provides enjoyment for those in power and keeps the underprivileged under control.

3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
The Hunger Games films suggest that the media definitely holds the power to shape and influence ideological beliefs. After discovering district 13 and the truth about the Capitol, Katniss uses the media to inform others on this matter and eventually they are persuaded to rebel against the Capitol as well.

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
The article discusses what ideology is and how ideology is constantly changing due to the media; the writer explains how we (ordinary people) have come to accept these ideologies and are blinded by the hidden messages and illusions created by the media (which is controlled by the powerful 1% elite)

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

Good should overcome evil
Law is better than disorder
Pleasure is a goal in life
People should work hard for their money

3) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?
The Italian Marxist philosopher introduced the concept of hegemony and suggested that it plays an important role in ensuring that the powerful elite maintain their control of the public through consent, rather than force, threat or fear. He argued that the power of ideology derives primarily from ideas and structures
which support an elite social group. For example, as ordinary people, we believe in banks and trust them with our money. However, banks highly benefit the elite, who control these massive organisations, more than they benefit us.

4) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?
The French Marxist theorist suggested that we are controlled by ideology and that ideology dominates our everyday lives through two forms of control-
Through the major institutions of society – the Government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. – which are dominated by the ruling elite. These state agencies regulate social behaviour and repress the masses through violence, punitive law, and fear. (Known as Repressive State Control)
Through the Church, the media, educational institutions, the family unit etc. These looser institutions control and dominate implicitly through ‘common sense’ acceptance and social norms, rather than through fear. (Known as Ideological State Apparatuses)
These two forms of control brainwash the masses into thinking that they need certain goods to be happy in life. They therefore spend their money on these essentially non-important items, once again benefiting the elite who control massive production corporations. 

5) 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!
Although this is a question that requires much thought and evidence before coming to a conclusion, I think that I do believe in the idea behind they live. We are unthinkingly controlled by the economic elite, who use the media to keep us at bay. We are made to believe that we are in control of our own lives and that we have individuality but this is just an illusion. At the end of the day, we have to work hard to earn money for our houses, electricity, water, etc and we are made to buy other goods (such as phones). However, I do believe that most people accept this life and are happy with it.