Marxism & hegemony
1) Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?
The reviewer suggests that Capital is a show that supports left wing ideologies, this is firstly seen with the mention of the 'Muslim man whose only crime was to burn the odd Union Jack (he fell in with the wrong crowd, m’lud) was dragged off to the cells by anti-terror police who were, naturally, bigoted and faceless.' This view that the reviewer poses suggests that he feels like the anti-terror police is typecast as he bad guys and the muslim man is made to look like the one is framed and innocent. This view suggests that the police is typecast as the bad guys.
The most relevant quote of the left wing ideology is how the 'English residents of Pepys Road were grasping (Lesley Sharp) or deceitful (Robert Emms) or just plain awful (Stirling), the Polish builder had a heart of gold and his Hungarian girlfriend was as honest as Mother Teresa.' This view suggests that the show features people that of white ethnicity of being miserable and unlikely for the audiences as I can say that I personally felt no sympathy for the characters, while the two people who have migrated into the country both seem to face some conflict but end up being an extremely happy couple at the end. This can be viewed by someone with a right wing ideology to be oppressive towards their views of immigrants and their attitudes.
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?
"It started with such a brilliant display, but by the finish we were left staring at the proverbial damp squib" I strongly agree with this quote as the show had begun on a really positive note throughout the first episode by establishing the main plot while also introducing sub-plots with the being introduced in good time with the supporting cast. but while watching the second it had felt like a drag, in which the only sense of audience pleasure I got was the scene with the polish builder realising that he has been wasting his time by going for different girls is extremely powerful as the soundtrack and lack of dialogue is impactful.
"The last 20 minutes contained no plot. Whatever story there had ever been was over. We just watched all the characters saying goodbye to each other" I also agree with this point as I felt no sense of conclusion with the departing of the cast in their separate ways. Quentina is sent away to her home country and is left crying a box, while her boyfriend is hopeful in the church, this may be done to show the realistic and harsh reality of the why people are treated, this further increases the anger of he right wing reviewer.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
The sympathetic story of Quentina and her boyfriend and her realistic depiction of being deported. The scene of the petition to raise awareness of the unfair arrest of one of the sons, in which Rodger sympathises with the family and say thy are not very different from one another.
4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London? In Capital, aspects such as the hard working characters reinforce status quo in capitalist London. For example, the fact that all of the characters work hard (regardless of their actual jobs) reinforces the ideology that putting in effort and building skill in your craft will reward you financially in the future.
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Casual Vacancy promotes a left-wing ideology through it's characters and their values. The Daily Mail suggests that The Casual Vacancy ridicules the wealthier characters and their values, whilst shaming them for their plans to sell the local food bank and the rehab centre.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The article suggests that the characters promote a left-wing ideology, through their traits and decision making. For example, according to the article, the characters are presented as being fairly narrow-minded and hypocritical. This is shown through their decisions to close down the rehabilitation centre and sell off the local food bank - decisions of which form the basis of the narrative. This drama is also set in a small idyllic country town, which reflects left-wing ideology as it suggests that he countryside is am ideal location away from city life and the pressures of working in large corporate businesses etc.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
Research from Dr. Mike Berry of Cardiff University, showed that the BBC was slightly more positioned towards the right, rather than the left. Christopher Stevens, BBC Director of Television, was also quoted regarding BBC bias. During his interview, Stevens explained that the BBC show programmes that challenge Tory views, because during the General Election, all broadcasters undergo stricter regulation in terms of what they show. I think that the BBC is not biased, because it shows a range of programmes that underpin both left and right-wing views.
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?
Ideologies become dominant as a result of elite groups repeating them. As they are constantly repeated, audiences soon accept them as common sense or as fact. The BBC and the Daily Mail link to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies. This is because they are platforms that have a large amount of power, therefore, they are able to either support or challenge different ideologies in the media. Because of this, they are able to change their audience's opinions about different topics (e.g. politics - Labour vs. Tory) and encourage them to follow one view more than another.
The reviewer suggests that Capital is a show that supports left wing ideologies, this is firstly seen with the mention of the 'Muslim man whose only crime was to burn the odd Union Jack (he fell in with the wrong crowd, m’lud) was dragged off to the cells by anti-terror police who were, naturally, bigoted and faceless.' This view that the reviewer poses suggests that he feels like the anti-terror police is typecast as he bad guys and the muslim man is made to look like the one is framed and innocent. This view suggests that the police is typecast as the bad guys.
The most relevant quote of the left wing ideology is how the 'English residents of Pepys Road were grasping (Lesley Sharp) or deceitful (Robert Emms) or just plain awful (Stirling), the Polish builder had a heart of gold and his Hungarian girlfriend was as honest as Mother Teresa.' This view suggests that the show features people that of white ethnicity of being miserable and unlikely for the audiences as I can say that I personally felt no sympathy for the characters, while the two people who have migrated into the country both seem to face some conflict but end up being an extremely happy couple at the end. This can be viewed by someone with a right wing ideology to be oppressive towards their views of immigrants and their attitudes.
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?
"It started with such a brilliant display, but by the finish we were left staring at the proverbial damp squib" I strongly agree with this quote as the show had begun on a really positive note throughout the first episode by establishing the main plot while also introducing sub-plots with the being introduced in good time with the supporting cast. but while watching the second it had felt like a drag, in which the only sense of audience pleasure I got was the scene with the polish builder realising that he has been wasting his time by going for different girls is extremely powerful as the soundtrack and lack of dialogue is impactful.
"The last 20 minutes contained no plot. Whatever story there had ever been was over. We just watched all the characters saying goodbye to each other" I also agree with this point as I felt no sense of conclusion with the departing of the cast in their separate ways. Quentina is sent away to her home country and is left crying a box, while her boyfriend is hopeful in the church, this may be done to show the realistic and harsh reality of the why people are treated, this further increases the anger of he right wing reviewer.
"The cards simply said, ‘We want what you have’.- But that concept went nowhere." I feel like this is really important as the main plot of the show was the postcards. The show was advertised with this postcard plot yet is went nowhere in my opinion and did not have any sense of fulfilment or consequence for the characters.
3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
The sympathetic story of Quentina and her boyfriend and her realistic depiction of being deported. The scene of the petition to raise awareness of the unfair arrest of one of the sons, in which Rodger sympathises with the family and say thy are not very different from one another.
4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London? In Capital, aspects such as the hard working characters reinforce status quo in capitalist London. For example, the fact that all of the characters work hard (regardless of their actual jobs) reinforces the ideology that putting in effort and building skill in your craft will reward you financially in the future.
1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?
The Casual Vacancy promotes a left-wing ideology through it's characters and their values. The Daily Mail suggests that The Casual Vacancy ridicules the wealthier characters and their values, whilst shaming them for their plans to sell the local food bank and the rehab centre.
2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?
The article suggests that the characters promote a left-wing ideology, through their traits and decision making. For example, according to the article, the characters are presented as being fairly narrow-minded and hypocritical. This is shown through their decisions to close down the rehabilitation centre and sell off the local food bank - decisions of which form the basis of the narrative. This drama is also set in a small idyllic country town, which reflects left-wing ideology as it suggests that he countryside is am ideal location away from city life and the pressures of working in large corporate businesses etc.
3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?
Research from Dr. Mike Berry of Cardiff University, showed that the BBC was slightly more positioned towards the right, rather than the left. Christopher Stevens, BBC Director of Television, was also quoted regarding BBC bias. During his interview, Stevens explained that the BBC show programmes that challenge Tory views, because during the General Election, all broadcasters undergo stricter regulation in terms of what they show. I think that the BBC is not biased, because it shows a range of programmes that underpin both left and right-wing views.
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?
Ideologies become dominant as a result of elite groups repeating them. As they are constantly repeated, audiences soon accept them as common sense or as fact. The BBC and the Daily Mail link to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies. This is because they are platforms that have a large amount of power, therefore, they are able to either support or challenge different ideologies in the media. Because of this, they are able to change their audience's opinions about different topics (e.g. politics - Labour vs. Tory) and encourage them to follow one view more than another.
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