MIGRAIN: Ideology

 Part 1: BBC Question Time analysis

Watch this clip from BBC Question Time with Russell Brand and Nigel Farage. The BBC deliberately placed the two against each other and the episode resulted in far more people than usual watching and reacting on social media

1) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?

In this clip you can see the two people talking about the current situation of GP's schools and tax money being talked about and the population increase and how immigration is affecting this and some "corrupt group". However we can see that the man and the woman in the audience is having some sort of disagreement.

2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

Russel appears to have a view in which he thinks the government and other rich people are the reason why they don't want to fund all the facilities for the public and appears to be in sympathy of the immigrants. On the other hand Nigel seems to be against the immigrants and thinks that they are the problem for the facilities not being built as schools are being filled by them and because they need to provide for them thus the reason for not being able to build facilities.

Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.


Part 2: Media Magazine reading

Media Magazine issue 52 has two good articles on Ideology. You need to read those articles (our Media Magazine archive is here) and complete a few short tasks linked to them. 


Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda


1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.
A dystopian future in which people fight to be the last one standing to control the population. 


2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?
It shows how the rich do not have to go through this process of killing people and how they will be the most safe out of everyone.

3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?
It shows how the rich will have power over the poor, however it shows how people can also be affected by media such as the audience gaining sympathy and thus turning against the people in power, showing that the higher ups won't always have the most power if they are overtaken by the majority.

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?

-People should put their families first.

-Law is better than disorder.

-Good should overcome evil.

-Pleasure is a goal in life.

2) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?

he says it's an "important way in which those in power maintain their control through consent,

rather than the use of force"

3) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?
He introduces the idea of a repressive state apparatus in which law and armed forces "repress the masses through violence"

4) Do YOU agree with the idea behind They Live - that we are unthinkingly controlled by the media which is run in the interests of the economic elite? These are the big questions of A Level Media!

I would possibly think so as the media is what we rely on for a lot of stuff including news and things that we may need help with as some data that is collected from us will also be used for profit for some other companies. I also think that people are easily affected by it due to younger people being the most easy to influence.