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 hardest worker on the street was an illegal immigrant" - the stereotype of immigrants that they live off benefits and government housing an dare therefore lazy is subverted in this show. A peaceful, emotional and human representation of immigrants is something that is perpetuated in left wing ideology and that idea is woven within the show. 

 
"...anti-terror police who were, naturally, bigoted and faceless." - The fact that the writer used the word "naturally" when describing the anti-terror police, suggest that those on the left present all police or anti-terror police to be "bigoted". As despite their job, the Guardian insinuates, that the left wing portrays all those in the police force to be racist or "bigoted".

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?

"You can be certain it wasn’t the plot that attracted the BBC drama department in the first place." - This suggests that the BBC are now pushing a 'woke' or left leaning agenda, something that I don't entirely disagree with. As the preface for the show is definitely left leaning but considering  the history of the BBC and the opinions of leftists; the broadcaster is more Royalist than anything else. I nether think it is more right or left leaning but I do think it reflects British values - which ones is the better question? I am unsure. 

"Everything British came in for a dose of loathing."-  Suggesting that the show hates the fundamental principles of Britain and therefore presents British people in a loathsome manner. I disagree with this view as I don't think it's about British people being portrayed this way - as the writer forgets that all of these characters  are devices for something. For example; Roger is presented as a self-centred, egotistical, and a consumerist; as well as his wife. Who both happen to be British, but the reason their characters are presented this way is because the show needed to make the point of capitalism in the UK, something that is intertwined within our society ,as this is a social commentary drama. If we take the other British Character ,Petunia , she is working class and represents those in society that are forgotten( our elderly generation). Her character is loved by the audience throughout in contrast to Roger. So I disagree with the writers point of view on this completely as I believe it's not about who's British and who's not - it's about the left VS right. 

"The crusading lawyer (a woman, of course)"- The brackets with "(a woman of course)" suggests that the fact that the lawyer is a woman is some type of leftist propaganda , as if woman being in professional civil service fields is something that is progressive and therefore unheard of. The writer therefore pokes fun at the left wing for it, an unnecessary criticism in my opinion as it's not as if it's unheard of for women to be lawmakers , I believe that the writer just has sexist prejudices of their own that have nothing to do with a left wing agenda. 

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

The character Quintina is portrayed as an immigrant who works hard regardless of her lawful status to be able to work , she does anyway. This subverts the stereotype that immigrants live off benefits and take the governments money by using up social housing etc. This can be read as promoting left wing ideology as those on the left believe immigrants help and contribute to British society socially and economically. 

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

The scene where Roger discovers his measly bonus and exclaims "what use is 30 Grand to anybody?", this presentation of bankers could be read as promoting right wing propaganda. Roger is the representation for the upper classes in society and for him to be presented as ungrateful suggests that the left view the upper classes as such. As he portrays the ideals of capitalism and is the embodiment of capitalist ideology. 


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?

Power is held by a minority (the elite or bourgeoisie) who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth

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. The show as well as Lord Sugar reinforce Karl Marx's idea that the elite were the only ones who had access to the means of production and in the case of  The Apprentice - Lord Sugar represents the elite giving chances to the proletariat so they can prove themselves. 

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.

In the show Arcane the entire preface of the show is an anecdote for the differences between the proletariat and the elite. This is portrayed through physical differences in the show ranging from artistic styles, the colours associated with each part of the city, the fact that the elite and proletariat are physically separated into different cities and the biggest one of all - that where the proletariat live is called "The Underground" and where the elite live is called "Topside". Communicating to the audience that due to this clear divide, the masses are treated as second class citizens under the rule of the elite. The fact the the masses are poor, living in houses that they build themselves or scraps of buildings. Were are introduced to the main characters that the show follows when they are going on a job - stealing from Topsider houses to find goods they can sell to make a living. These characters are no older than 16 and the youngest amongst them is around 10 or 11. In comparison to the representation of the elite who are covered in gold and brag about being a technological advanced society but simultaneously don't take care of there citizens underground. Therefore demonising those who are poor , communicating to the audience the life of those who's governments don't care for them. 

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.

Being a member of the masses is shown to be a "good thing" in Capital as the working class family that run the corner shop, Quintina, and Petunia are all apart of the masses and are presented to be hardworking an lovable people. The show also shows "the subdominant position of the masses as a naturalised idea" , as it's shown that the mases in the show accept their positions in society and therefore fall victim to the "consent" of control the elite push towards them. In addition Capital reinforces capitalism through it's representation of Quintina as capitalists believe if you work hard you can get anywhere you want in life, which is what she did although it didn't work out so well for her. The show also reinforces this through Roger as he represents the aftermath of hard work - he's a rich man who can afford to have a nanny, two gardeners a holiday house in the country and a house wife.