TV: Capital - Marxism and Hegemony

 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 Mail suggest that Capital has left-wing ideologies e.g. the immigrants such us, Quentina who is a hard worker and Bogdan who is a builder with a "heart of gold". 

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?

1. "While the English residents of Pepys Road were grasping (Lesley Sharp) or deceitful (Robert Emms) or just plain awful (Stirling),"
2. "Everything British came in for a dose of loathing."
3. "one of the immigrant characters snarled, with real anger: ‘Ah! The Great British understatement!’"

With the first two quotes I partially agree as the characters who were played  by Sharp, Emms and Stirling were portrayed as the article states, however Petunia (Gemma Jones) was portrayed as a kind and loving character. Also, the British culture did put the audience in the position of "loathing" it.

However, with the third quote, I disagree as the "immigrant" didn't say their line "with real anger" and also hadn't "snarled".

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

Petunia could me promoting left-wing ideologies as she didn't mind the immigrants coming to Britain (opening scene after montage opening sequence) . Also the Quentina's lawyer could also be promoting these ideologies as she is fighting for immigrants and human rights.

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

Roger reinforces capitalist views as he is a businessman who believes that he should earn his rightful salary based on how much work and money he has made for the company he works for - "It's not a question of greed. It's justice." & "What use is thirty grand?"

Albert presents right wing ideologies as petunia states in the opening scene in the Kamal family shop that "Albert didn't much like change." He didn't like immigration. Right wing political parties try to stop immigration.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

There are certain structures which act to support the financial power-base. This occurs either through repression or ideologically. Society were actively engaged in this type of control. 

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

The Apprentice has one main superior leader who is in charge, Lord Alan Sugar, who is the elite. The contestants are dependent on him and need him for getting jobs, and who ever turns out to be the best, gets the job. The contestants are required to be having certain behaviour's making them assets to the field of business, otherwise they aren't worthy. They compete with each other.

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.

• Emmerdale (1972-present, ITV) - about a group of working class families in a 'tight-knit' community who face various problems and try to overcome them together. This communicates that however poor you are, that you will always be happy and have people around you to support you.
• Coronation Street (1960-present, ITV) - about the everyday lives of working class families and deal with hardships caused by 'their personal and professional lives'. This shows how even though people have problems you can overcome them and that working-class people work through their hard-times and have a very close bond with each other and are sociable, but also could imply that rich upper-class people are very distanced and 'snobbish'.

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 - Lothar is seen as the elite and has power. Roger and the other workers are in need of him. Roger needs a bigger bonus "What use is thirty grand?"
• show queries or challenges to the base as meaningless, foolish or anti-social via ‘failed revolt’ - The letters and pictures of "We want what you have" portrays anti-social behaviour as they contain pictures of the residents without their consent and pictures of their children.
• show the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea - That the masses work for and listen to the elite without questioning back. Mark listen to Roger and Lothar in the meeting and Bogdan listens to Arabella.
• show the values of the power elite as ‘natural’ or ‘right’ - Roger asking and shouting "What use is thirty grand?" seems rightful as his department was best performing so should be entitled to it.
• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing - Bogdan shows a good representation of the mass as even though he is a builder and works for other clients (elite) he is still happy and enjoys his life.
• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite - Bogdan listens to whatever Arabella says. In this case Arabella is the elite and Bogdan is part of the mass.
• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant) - Quentina's lawyer advises her to wait for what the government says about her asylum seeking. She tells her she shouldn't be working. Quentina has a risk of being sent back and either being killed or raped.