Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks



Task 1: Mail Online review of Capital

1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?

The story highlights the positive aspects of immigration, including the fact that Quintina, an illegal immigrant, was the hardest worker on the street, the Polish builder had a heart of gold, and his Hungarian girlfriend was just as honest as Mother Teresa. These examples demonstrate how most of the characters have a positive impact on those who immigrated to London in search of a better life.


2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blogpost. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?

  • "The hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant, determined to pay her way and not touch a penny of benefits." Defenitivly agree as she was one of the only ones that knows what it means to have a bad life so she had to work super hard in order to not return to that life.
  • "Capital started with an intriguing idea" I also agree the concept was cool seeing all these different POVs was interesting, especially with all their reactions to the ominous cards.
  • "The last 20 mins contained no plot”- wouldn't know didn't watch it fully.

3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?

Scene 4: Asylum 

Scene 6: Life at the corner shop


4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?

Scene 4: What use is 30 grand?

  • Roger completely destroyed by 30 grand bonus shows his white privilege laid bare. 

Scene 3: Which of those isn’t absolutely essential?
  • Shows how privileged the richest Londoners are.



Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #66: Applying Marxism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level or online here (you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

The rich and powerful hold all the power and make us think that  they don't.

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

The fact that Sugar has all the power reinforces the ‘superior’ position of the capitalist elite. He has power as he has used the system to create wealth and he is shown using this power to provide a livelihood for the winner of the competition. 

3) Come up with two 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'.) Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

TV Show: Shameless (UK):

Representation: A dysfunctional working-class family living in a Manchester council estate is shown in the show. Characters involved in antisocial behaviour, criminal activity, and substance abuse can be seen in it.
Meaning Comunicated: Shameless's celebration of its characters' defiant and unconventional behaviour can be interpreted as fetishizing working-class life. It offers an idealised vision of poverty, presenting it as freeing and lacking of social conventions. On the other hand, it also reinforces unfavourable perceptions about members of the working class, portraying them as careless and unmotivated.



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 try applying 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.

  • show the values of the power elite as beneficial to the mass
  • show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’
  • show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses

In scene 1 “Bonus season” - and £75m profit - emphasises the crazy money in banking and therefore the inequality in London. 
In scene 3 “You’d be surprised at how little £1m covers these days.” Shows how privileged the richest Londoners are.
In scene 5 Roger completely destroyed by 30 grand bonus to the point he starts to vomit, shows his rich privilege laid bare.

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