Factsheet 66
1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?
Marx was interested in the impact of capitalism on society. Through observations of industrialised Victorian society he noted a number of things:
• Power was held by a minority (the elite or bourgeoisie) who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth
• The majority of the population (the mass or proletariat) had only their labour (strength and time) to help them make a living
• Industrialisation had meant that the elite were the only ones who had access to the means of production
• Without the ability to produce for themselves, the mass were dependent on the elite for survival
• To maximise profits, the elite needed to get as much labour from the mass for as little cost as possible
• The elite needed the mass to accept their position as powerless workers.
2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?
The show is an example of how people in the elite are in power to control what should be and what shouldn't be successful, Alan Sugar has all the power and is in a superior position. The contestants are dependent on him and they are competitive with each other while being challenged to complete tasks in the world of 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'.)
eastenders - it often portrays an unrealistic representation of life in east london as storylines are dramatised to make it more interesting for the audience
capital - fetishises the working class and shows them in a positive light and demonises middle/upper class, critiquing their lifestyle and spending habits
the daily mail - it is known for its strong right wing views, demonising people living on benefits and giving a bad overall outlook on immigrants and the immigration system. It is often seen to be quite racist and British favoured
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
Rodger and his lifestyle alongside his heavy dependence on the bonuses he receives in which is reinvested to renovating and improving the house leading to price of houses to go up.
show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’
The banksy painters assistant puts the last of the postcards through the door, was arrested for the harassment caused.
show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea
The banker having some power or influence in the market is non-existent. His assistant putting the money in the stocks trying to help the mass and the banks fails as the stocks go down.
show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’
The banker leaves his bonus with his bosses who control a lot of things, they are the elite. This is natural to him as he has always done this.
show that being a member of the mass is a good thing
The people leave the power with the banks, this makes the house prices go up keeping them better off.
show the masses accepting the values of the power elite
Everywhere the banker commutes there is no trouble, no ones causing problems on the train as they are all going to work. They are following the rules to maintain order which is what the elite want to maintain control of the masses.
show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant)
Quentina has to wait for her letter to see if shes being deported or not, the austerity cuts and the pressure the councils are under may overlook her case. The cuts are put in place so debt could be payed off.
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