media and the role of ideology

marxism

• marxists believe that the media is part of the superstructure of society and that it supports the economic base which is controlled by the bourgeosie

the media and the role of ideology

• they believe that the media helps the ruling class as it transmits ideology

• it puts across the ideas that makes the unequal social system appear more natural fair and legitimate when infact, inequalities come from the way society functions

• media creates false class consciousness which stops them from questioning inequalities

• media stops people from thinking critically

marxist ralph miliband

• in his book ; the state in a capitalist society argues that capitalists control media by creating a false picture of reality that presents capitalism in a positive way

• he argues that the media pictures capitalism in a way that makes them seem inevitable and justifiable

• therefore the proletariat accepts these values even though they are not in the interest of their class

• he was concerned about the impact of the media on society and referred to it as the ‘opium of people’,

‘opium of the people’ miliband

• drawn from marx considering religion to be the ‘opium of the people’

• he believes that the media has replaced religion as the institituion that acts like a drug to numb the senses and produce an illusion of happiness that isnt real

• therefore, the media takes the proletairats attention away from the exploitation and oppression that they experience form the bourgeoisise and allows the ruling class to dominate over them

• a way in which they do this is the way that they represent certain social groups in society

construction of social groups

• both traditional and neo marxists agree that media representations of social groups are constructed in a way to support the interests of the ruling class and to maintain their power over society

• however, traditional marxists focus on class in particular as they see it as the fundamental inequality in society

• media owners have power to shape the way that social groups are represented

• The ruling class are presented as trustworthy and deserving of their wealth whereas the working class are presented as feckless ignorant and undeserving

• points of conflict are obscured when these relaities are presented in the media

rupert murdoch

• media owners such as rupert murdoch are therefore seen as important factors in the ruling class controlling influence within society

• different media ownes are seen as part of the ruling class and as sharing the interests of the ruling class as a whole

representation of social class

• the media uses particular representations for social class for the benefit of the ruling class

• a way this happens is that the social class system is represented as natural and fair

• marxists see such representations as seeking to manipulate the working class into thinking that they live in a world of meritocracy when in reality the rich do not deserve the power they have as it is inherited