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 review suggests Capital features a left-wing ideology through its main plot surrounding themes of gentrification and racism in a London where tensions are quickly rising.

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?

-That the plot attracted the BBC due to it being "stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary", a joke about the show being extremely leftist though it simply highlights a reality of London at the time.

-It believes that "everything British came in for a dose of loathing" and there is a constant reminder of a list of "politically incorrect crimes", that the narrative seems to lean to the left to comical incomprehensible degrees.

-The review stated that the drama's "concept went nowhere" and that it's "not a whodunnit, it’s a cop-out", yet the show was never meant to resolve issues but highlight them and portray how a broken community cannot take any real steps against the threat.

3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?
The inclusion of a diverse ensemble cast with sub-plots of immigration, extremism, racism and deportation, and a 'punishment' of what's quintessentially "British".

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?
It may be considered right wing due to the narrative fate of the diverse characters, they're narratively punished such as deportation, imprisonment and general oppression whilst the British characters seem to live in relative peace as they simply more away from their problems or able to be in a relationship peacefully.

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?

Marxism suggests power is held by a minority that had access to means of production, labour is a commodity held by the elite that maximises profits and tricks the powerless majority into submission. 

2) Why is The Apprentice a good example of the media reinforcing capitalist values and ideologies?

It reinforces the superiority of the capitalistic elite, and the working class' majority's dependance on him and the winner gets a well paid job if they are able to perform well enough to both the elite and the general audience, the participants are made into a form of entertainment as they fit themselves into acceptable personality types.

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.

'Only Fools and Horses' fetishes working class life as it offfers positive experienecs despite hardship and economic deprevation, it presents attainment of elite status as a foolish game and romantices their life. Meanwhile, the show 'Snog, Marry, Avoid?' demonises the working class as it presents middle class life as better and desirable to working class young women that are presented as clueless and classless, as well as that, they advertise products to purchase to seem more desirable.

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.

Capitol presents the elite and the people in positions of power, such as the government and police not being able to help the residents of the street.  Capitol dismisses the idea of a 'failed revolt' as the characters are too caught up in their own lives to even come together as a community, forget even thinking of liberation. Capitol presents the notion that the masses gain a subdominant status in society due to the assets they seem to own at the beginning of the plot. Capitol rejects the idea of the elite being right as it leads most of the class to damned fates. Capitol presents being part of the masses as an unfortunate and sad reality of the whole cast yet it allows them to retain certain levels of humanity. Capitol rejects the values of the elite through presenting them in a negative light through representation of gentrification, the corrupt banking world and the flawed government.