Marx regarded people as both the producers and the products of society. Given the priority Marx assigns to economic factors, an end to alienation involves a radical change in the economic infrastructure. The relationship between classes is one of antagonism and conflict. Throughout history, opposing classes have stood in " constant opposition to one another , carried on an uninterrupted , now hidden , now open fight that each time ended in a revolutionary reconstruction of society at large. "
Marxists sees society split into two classes: the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The ruling class ( Bourgeoisie ) owes its dominance and power to its ownership and control of the means of production. The subject class ( proletariat) are the lower class or the two as they are being exploited from the lack of ownership and therefore lack of control of the means of production. The classes stand opposed as exploiter and exploited, oppressor and oppressed.
Marxists sees society split into two classes: the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The ruling class ( Bourgeoisie ) owes its dominance and power to its ownership and control of the means of production. The subject class ( proletariat) are the lower class or the two as they are being exploited from the lack of ownership and therefore lack of control of the means of production. The classes stand opposed as exploiter and exploited, oppressor and oppressed.
xX Marxism and the Media Xx
Media producers produce media texts that contribute to maintain this so called satus quo in society between the division of social classes. Texts are primarily there to generate mass audiences because of the profit motive , that consequently results to the dumbing down of their output. Althusser ( Marxist) distinguishes between 2 apparatuses ; the ideological state apparatus and the repressive state apparatus.
The repressive state apparatuses ( RSAs) maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by force or the threat of it. This includes the police, courts and army. This can result with these organisations to use physical force to repress the working class ( proletariat)
The ideological state apparatuses ( ISAs) maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by controlling peoples ideas, values and beliefs. This includes religion, mass media and the educational system.
This therefore makes the audience believe that these ideologies are correct. Another Marxist (Gramsci) came up with the concept hegemony - that is the dominance of these ideologies of the ruling class, along with their beliefs and values. By this being evident in the media , the ruling class retain hegemonic control.
Media producers produce media texts that contribute to maintain this so called satus quo in society between the division of social classes. Texts are primarily there to generate mass audiences because of the profit motive , that consequently results to the dumbing down of their output. Althusser ( Marxist) distinguishes between 2 apparatuses ; the ideological state apparatus and the repressive state apparatus.
The repressive state apparatuses ( RSAs) maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by force or the threat of it. This includes the police, courts and army. This can result with these organisations to use physical force to repress the working class ( proletariat)
The ideological state apparatuses ( ISAs) maintain the rule of the bourgeoisie by controlling peoples ideas, values and beliefs. This includes religion, mass media and the educational system.
This therefore makes the audience believe that these ideologies are correct. Another Marxist (Gramsci) came up with the concept hegemony - that is the dominance of these ideologies of the ruling class, along with their beliefs and values. By this being evident in the media , the ruling class retain hegemonic control.
.x Pluralism In The Media x.
Compared to the Marxist perspective, pluralism can be seen as the complete opposite. Pluralists identifies that societies different groups are competing groups none of them more dominant than the other. Compared to the Marxists theory that audiences are passive, taken in by the ideologies being drip feed to them by the media, pluralists see the audience in a position to even manipulate the media that determines the output of texts. They also reject the concept of a mass culture unlike the Marxists. In society there is now high culture that reaches wide audiences , meaning that as an individual we have the freedom to make choices about what we consume and don't. The media is not portrayed to be all negative as it acts in the public interest by keeping them to grips with institutions such as politicians, legal system and the church. By the audience being in control over would is produced and consumed , being an active part within the media, it is less likely to be legitimising class inequality as Marxists would say as the media now operates in the audiences interests.
This leads onto the media as a fourth estate. The first three estates that are a combination of the church , government and legal system all have power within society. The media being the forth has the role to inform the public about the other three. This is evident with the Public Service Broadcast as its main role is to inform the public,
however this has been questioned as there are debates concerning whether this should be the case as the Hutton report sparked some controversy about the exposure of Dr David Kelly and whether or not this lead to his death. Therefore this shows the limitations if this and the relationship between the government and the media and just how much exposure should they be allowed to have.
.x Analysis of The Pursuit Of Happiness x.
The Pursuit of Happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film, directed by Gabriele Muccino and based on the true story of Chris Gardner. The film stars Will Smith as Gardner, an on-and-off-homeless salesman-turned stockbroker.
The films overall plot is about a working class black American man and his struggle to obtain a job within a competitive society. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner becomes desperate to find a steady job; he takes on a job as a stockbroker, but before he can receive pay, he needs to go through 6 months of training. Along the way he loses his wife but through his commitment to his son he tries desperately to restore any normality to their lives with his big dream of becoming successful is what also keeps his determination in tact. Marxism is present within the film, as it portrays the capitalist state as a system of inequality as there are great contrasts between the working class struggle ( Proletariat) compared to the power and success fullness of white middle class men ( Bourgeoisie) showing that that inequalities and power only benefits the ruling class. Touching on what Marx says himself, the working class are therefore the reserve army of labour for the upper classes as Will Smith presents this as he is constantly
Pluralism is shown within the film as its popularity indicates that this particular type of storyline is popular amongst the audience. Firstly the success of the film could have something to do with the fact that it can be seen as a cultural break through , something that many black Americans would want to see. This is because the film is a way of raising awareness of this inequality that may still be present in society today and by the main protagonist ( Will Smith) going through his troubling times , in the end he breaks the racial and class barrier as he gets the job as a stockbroker.
Not only this but the popularity and the demands of this type of film to be made could come from the current economic situation , as people are finding it increasingly hard to find a job resulting in many people homeless , that faults the system in a convert way highlighting the flaws within it. Due to the difference in the way some live their lives ( upper class) compared to the working classes situation making society seem more polarised and therefore something that an audience wants to see within a film. Therefore in relation to the pluralist theory, it places the audience in a position to manipulate the media that consequently determines the overall outcome by the media institutions.
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