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?

They say that Capital's plot goes nowhere and instead focuses a little too much on the characters and their issues.

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?

"With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending. It started with such a brilliant display, but by the finish we were left staring at the proverbial damp squib."
"But that concept went nowhere. The residents were bemused, but not scared. The police were clueless, but they still got to the bottom of it."
"You can be certain it wasn’t the plot that attracted the BBC drama department in the first place. Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary."

I agree with them somewhat. While the plot and premise of Capitial initially seemed appealing, the show eventually got stale/boring for me.

3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?

The asylum seeker or Muslim man

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?

Robert, Rodger or Stirling

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Power was held by a minority (the elite or bourgeoisie) who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth.

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

It's a good example as Sugar has all the power, which reinforces the ‘superior’ position of the capitalist elite.

3) Come up with two examples of media texts (e.g. TV programmes, newspapers etc.) that either fetishize 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 Fool and Horses - despite the hardship and economic deprivation experienced by Del and his family, being working class offers a range of positive experiences.

Coronation Street - critics argued that the show drifted away from its realistic and gritty premise and instead started to become wildly unrealistic with its problems and hardships the characters face

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.

Some of these apply to Capital, mainly the ones that focus on power and hierarchy. Capital challenges the values of capitalism by focusing on social problems and issues rather than taking the time to make capitalism look good. Infact, one of the main characters who is heavily focused on capitalism, Rodger, is shown to be a stern and greedy man; something that obviously paints capitalism in a bad light to audiences. There are multiple examples of socialistic ideas shown (e.g. when the corner shop owner provided coriander to a neighbour despite not selling any, and for free).

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