Capital, Marxism and Hegemony
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?
It suggests that Capital supports a left wing ideology because of the characters and narratives it represents. A negative representation of the elite class such as Roger and Arabella reinforces the left wing ideology. The positive representation of Quentina supports the idea of immigration which is a left wing ideology.
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?
"With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending."
- I do agree with the fact that the ending was rushed but it was pleasing.
"She was deported, though she did find time to teach English to some of her fellow saints at the detention centre."
- This is a shocking statement because it is mocking the other people in detention centres by calling them 'fellow saints' in a very sarcastic way. This is not acceptable because there are many immigrants who are put in detention centres for the wrong reasons.
"Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary."
- I do not agree with the writer's negative tone and attitude towards the working class because that is who Capital was aimed at and the narratives and characters reflected this.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
Capital does reinforce status quo because Roger is a British white male who is the wealthiest person living on the street. Also, he works in central London where his office has predominantly white males working there.
Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology
Now go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.
Answer the questions below:
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Daily Mail ridiculed the wealthier which promotes an left wing ideology and shamed them for trying to sell of the local food bank and rehab centre Sweetlove House.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The hero of the series invests his time and money into the rehab centre and is against shutting it down to turn it into a spa. This promotes an left wing ideology because he is fighting for something that could help people reform instead of a spa that would be use for wealthy people who have money to throw around on useless things.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
The BBC is seen to be in favour of the left wing and has been criticised for being biased because it gave support to the Labour party just two and a half months before the 2015 general elections. They make it very clear that this was intentional and that everyone supports the left wing ideology however, a study of the BBC's output conducted by Dr Mike Berry of Cardiff University and commissioned by the BBC trust itself found out that if anything the BBC is more right that left wing.
4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?
We can apply Gramsci's theory to the Daily Mail because they provide negative representations of Muslims relating all of them to certain issues when it doesn't concern them. This maybe seen as 'common sense' because the writers view is presented to the readers and they have no choice but to believe that everything is true. The Daily Mail supports the right wing ideologies and therefore has clear straightforward views about immigration and other issues.
1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?
It suggests that Capital supports a left wing ideology because of the characters and narratives it represents. A negative representation of the elite class such as Roger and Arabella reinforces the left wing ideology. The positive representation of Quentina supports the idea of immigration which is a left wing ideology.
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?
"With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending."
- I do agree with the fact that the ending was rushed but it was pleasing.
"She was deported, though she did find time to teach English to some of her fellow saints at the detention centre."
- This is a shocking statement because it is mocking the other people in detention centres by calling them 'fellow saints' in a very sarcastic way. This is not acceptable because there are many immigrants who are put in detention centres for the wrong reasons.
"Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary."
- I do not agree with the writer's negative tone and attitude towards the working class because that is who Capital was aimed at and the narratives and characters reflected this.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
- The scenes showing the Muslim family as kind and generous people, especially when he gave Arabella free coriander.
- Thee scene when Roger receives his bonus and states 'What use is 30 grand?
- The scenes with Quentina and how the audience is encouraged to sympathise with her
Capital does reinforce status quo because Roger is a British white male who is the wealthiest person living on the street. Also, he works in central London where his office has predominantly white males working there.
Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology
Now go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.
Answer the questions below:
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Daily Mail ridiculed the wealthier which promotes an left wing ideology and shamed them for trying to sell of the local food bank and rehab centre Sweetlove House.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The hero of the series invests his time and money into the rehab centre and is against shutting it down to turn it into a spa. This promotes an left wing ideology because he is fighting for something that could help people reform instead of a spa that would be use for wealthy people who have money to throw around on useless things.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
The BBC is seen to be in favour of the left wing and has been criticised for being biased because it gave support to the Labour party just two and a half months before the 2015 general elections. They make it very clear that this was intentional and that everyone supports the left wing ideology however, a study of the BBC's output conducted by Dr Mike Berry of Cardiff University and commissioned by the BBC trust itself found out that if anything the BBC is more right that left wing.
4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?
We can apply Gramsci's theory to the Daily Mail because they provide negative representations of Muslims relating all of them to certain issues when it doesn't concern them. This maybe seen as 'common sense' because the writers view is presented to the readers and they have no choice but to believe that everything is true. The Daily Mail supports the right wing ideologies and therefore has clear straightforward views about immigration and other issues.
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