Ideology: further reading and tasks

MM52, Page 34: The World Of Mockingjay: Ideology, Dystopia And Propaganda

1. The capitalist ideology that is presented in The Hunger Games film is the Marxist theory.
2. The Hunger Games film suggests that the use of propaganda in the media shapes and also influences ideological ideas because their society will be sculpted to believe that rebelling is wrong and that they have to follow President Snow's dictatorship. Through the use of propaganda i.e. the hunger games fear is created within their society. However, this is challenged through symbolism i.e. the mockingjay and Katniss, who attempts to overthrow President Snow. 

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) Money = Happiness
Consumer goods = Fulfilment
Marriage/Family/Children = Happiness
Obedience/Work= Fulfilment

2) Gramsci's theory of Hegemony suggests that it is important for those in power maintain their control through consent, rather than the use of force, and that it is also important that the power of ideology comes from an elite social group which is able to dominate through ideas, rather than militaristic strength or fear.

4)French theorist Louis Althusser suggest that ideology is the greatest material power and dominates our day to day lives through forms of control, RSA's such as the government, Army, Police, Courts, etc. and ISA's, such as the Church, the media, educational institutions, the family unit etc. This links to consumerism because these dominant ideologies are passed on to us through forms of control i.e. the elite class, who encourage consumerism. This can be done through advertising and marketing.

5) I partly agree with the idea behind "They Live",  as i do believe that our thoughts are somewhat being controlled by the media but this is only natural as the media is our main source of information. However, we as a society are still able to pick out information and choose what we think is valid or invalid, therefore we cannot be completely controlled by the media on what we think or believe in.