Applying Marxism

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

It simply suggests that all of the media that exist are controlled by the narrow elite that use the media to control all of the masses. A good example is the BBC. Only people that have contacts in the company, there're some people that worked hard and got into the BBC with no contacts, but it's mostly people that are already in the higher class that get into companies like that.

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

The show strongly illustrates the theory of Marxism; as the candidates battles to get into a company ran by Lord Alan Sugar that controls the masses. 

3) Come up with three 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'.)

Stranger Things
Elite
The Office

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’

In Capital they might not be shown as right, but they are definitely natural when it comes to city like London. It's a city where there are masses and extremes. A good example is the rich family; all of the working class people around them live in harmony.

• show that being a member of the mass is a good thing

There is a lot of working class people in this show and they are put in a very good light, as good and mostly happy people that don't mean any harm. A good example is the Polish builder that is happy with his girlfriend. 

• show the masses accepting the values of the power elite

At this point people don't really care about who controls them or have more money, they just want to live their lives. A good example is Petunia that doesn't really care about the money or power, she just wants to live a calm life in her house. 

• show the values of the power elite as being ‘for the good of the masses’ (even when unpleasant)

Now apply 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.