Blog tasks: ideology

Blog tasks: ideology

Part 1: BBC Question Time analysis

Watch this clip from BBC Question Time with Russell Brand and Nigel Farage. The BBC deliberately placed the two against each other and the episode resulted in far more people watching and tweeting than usual.

1) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?

Blue haired woman vs Disabled man

Short hair vs long hair

Immigrants bad vs Immigrants good

poor vs rich

people vs government

audience vs performer 

2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

Nigel Farage believes the UK is overcrowded and there's a strain on resources thanks to immigrants while Russel Brand believes it is the politicians who make unnecessary, selfish cuts to public resources. The difference in ideologies is that their beliefs over what the root of the problem is differ.

Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.


Part 2: 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 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 world is filled with propaganda and rich people with power over poor people.

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

the view is that of a negative one as there are huge divides between the rich and the poor.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?

The characters slowly learn to manipulate the media into favouring them, showcasing that media is simply someone's perception of events and not the ummediated truth. 

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

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

Ideologies change rapidly due to constant conversations presented through media and people.

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

-People should put their families first.
-People should work hard for their money.
-Women should behave in feminine ways, and look after their appearance.

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

His theory suggests dominant societal views benefit the rich and powerful and keep the working class in check.

4) 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 controls social behaviour through the major institutions
of society – the Government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. –which are dominated by the ruling elite.
2: ‘Ideological State Apparatuses’ that control using common sense rather than fear.

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!

I, on the whole, do believe that money holds influence and as the media giants amass great wealth, they would naturally promote ideologies that keep them on top. These ideas have been so ingrained in our culture though that they must unknowingly be promoting it themselves on some level.