Marxist theory
Why is Marxist theory influential on media critics and theorists?
The Marxist lens can be used to examine media content (film/TV/AD) in order to reveal ideological messages about SOCIAL CLASS.
What is Marxism?
This is a conflict theory that deals with the economic, social, and political views between the rich and the poor.
What are the key-Principles of Marxism
1. Materialism
2. Base and Structure
3. Class conflict
4. Alienation
5. Hegemony
Explain Class Conflict
A conflict between two basic classes:
Bourgeoise - The owners of the production
Proletariat - The people who work the production
- the less important classes are grouped together.
what is this:
The relationship between the modes of production of material life, and the legal and political dimensions of society.
Base and SuperStructure
what is this:
- The conception of history and the way society organizes itself.
- the belief that our ideas and thoughts are shaped by the environment around us, but still believe that ideas have the ability to reshape these conditions.
Materialism
what is Alienation within Marxism
When workers belong to their employees ( isolated from a group where they belong)
what is Hegemony?
“The dominance of one group over another, often supported by legitimating norms and ideas”
when one's ideas become above the others and is often supported by creating "norms" that support the ruling ideologies
what does this relate to:
One of the central arguments of modern Marxist cultural analysis is that masses of people are being manipulated and exploited by the ruling class.
False Consciousnes
what is this:
Refers to a softer version of Marxist thought, developed by 20th-century Marxist thinkers based mainly in Western and Central Europe
Western Marxism
what did 20th-century Marxist theorists like Antonio Gramsci do?
Foreground the role of culture as the principal field of ideological struggle.
(Class domination achieved through the ideological hegemony of the dominant class)
provides a specific interpretation of marxist philosophy with regards to some of its central economic and political notions like commodification, reification, fetishization and critique of mass culture.
Critical theory
what is a key issue with Frankfurt School?
key issues and philosophical preoccupations of the school involve the critique of modernity and capitalist society, the definition of social emancipation, as well as the detection of the pathologies of society
who is Walter benjamin?
Wrote the famous article “The Work of art in the Age of mechanical reproduction” (1935)
Walter bengimans three key points within his article?
Authenticity
Aura
Facsism