MIGRAIN: Ideology blog post

Part 1: BBC Question Time analysis

1) What examples of binary opposition can you suggest from watching this clip?

- Left wing & Right wing agenda

- Politicians and active audiences 

- Russell Brand and Nigel Farage 

- Immigration vs. No immigration.
2) What ideologies are on display in this clip?

Embed the video into your blog (as above) and answer these two questions in full paragraphs.

The ideologies that are displayed are regarding immigration and how some believe it's a problem which needs to be sorted or something that is fundamentally harmless and just prejudice against those who are different. The ideologies that are displayed are to point out the political differences that each party shares and values and set of beliefs are challenged or accepted. 
Part 2: Media Magazine reading

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

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.

The article shows how the media can portray a certain piece in a different way to fit their agenda. 


2) What view of capitalist ideology is presented in the Hunger Games films?

The capitalist view that is being explored in the Hunger Games represents that whose with the most wealth and power get to force or reinforce their dominant ideologies onto to others.
3) What do the Hunger Games films suggest about the power of the media to shape and influence ideological beliefs?

The Hunger Games suggest that power of the media helps create influence over certain ideologies. This is shown through the protagonist Katniss. 

Page 48: They Live - Understanding Ideology

1) Read the article and summarise it in one sentence.

This article explores how ideologies are socially constructed and sold to audience based around their agenda. 
2) What are the four accepted ideological beliefs in western societies highlighted by the article?

> Having money makes to happy.

> There is fulfilment in buying consumer goods.

> Works holds power and fulfillment.

> Family is important as it makes you whole.

3) What does Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggest about power and ideology in society?

Gramsci theory of hegemony in today's society explores the power held by those who own more. Thus connotes that he don't question certain ideologies by authorities and we passively listen to other ideologies. 
4) What does French theorist Louis Althusser suggest about ideology and consumerism?

Louis Althusser explores the idea that ideology and consumerism have a strong link as businesses and buying new things help shape form our ideas about certain things. 
5) Do YOU agree with the idea behind They Live - that we are unthinkingly controlled by the media which is run in the interests of the economic elite? These are the big questions of A Level Media!

I agree to an extent as we are being handled in certain aspects as the information we receive we don't always question the leaching biases are still there which connotes that we are being fed certain information that benefits the whole without questioning the process to which it has been giving us. However, I don't believe that everyone passively listen and contain themselves to fit the media's agenda rather they question the entirety of what is being claimed. As a result, if "They live" claim that audiences are just passive they are putting the "Hypodermic needle theory" by Lasswell into theory which means that audiences are censoring themselves which is wrong and making seem as if audiences are not interactive and are in a media slumber and would blindly agree to anything. Therefore, I would say that we challenge certain ideologies because we feel they attack our values but in no form would everyone blindly agree with the media because we know that theirs some bias lurking in every article.