Marxism & hegemony: blog tasks

 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?

The review suggests that Capital promotes a left-wing ideology by portraying an illegal immigrant, Quentina, as the hardest-working character on the street. She is shown as determined to support herself without relying on state benefits, yet she is ultimately deported. The review highlights how she is depicted as selfless, even teaching English to fellow detainees, which contrasts with the negative portrayal of privileged, middle-class characters.

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?

• “The concept went nowhere.”

• “The last 20 minutes contained no plot.”

• “Honestly, you’ll get rid of your family after Christmas faster than this feeble drama departed.”

I partly agree with these criticisms, as Capital focuses more on social commentary than on a fast-paced, gripping narrative. However, this slow-burn storytelling style allows for a deeper exploration of class, wealth, and immigration issues, making it an effective drama despite its lack of traditional plot progression.

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

The show highlights class inequality through its characters. The Asian family is depicted as hardworking but struggling financially, while Roger and Arabella, a privileged white middle-class couple, are shown as ungrateful and entitled. This contrast supports a left-wing critique of social inequality, where wealth and privilege are inherited rather than earned through merit.

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

Roger, a wealthy banker, could be seen as embodying the capitalist ideal of success through hard work and perseverance. His financial achievements suggest that capitalism rewards those who work for it, reinforcing a right-wing ideology that wealth is a product of individual effort rather than systemic advantages.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #66: Applying Marxism. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level or online here (you'll need your Greenford Google login to access). Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

Marxism argues that power is concentrated in the hands of the wealthy elite, who control resources, institutions, and ideologies. The working class, on the other hand, only possess their labor, which they must sell to survive. This creates a power imbalance where the elite maintain control, and the masses remain subordinate.

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

The Apprentice promotes capitalist values by portraying Lord Sugar as a self-made billionaire who has used the system to achieve success. His power is reinforced by the show’s structure, where he dictates who succeeds and who fails. This narrative suggests that hard work and competition are the keys to success, reinforcing the capitalist ideal of meritocracy.

3) Come up with two 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'.) Explain what meanings these texts communicate to their audiences.

Shameless (US) fetishises working-class life by presenting poverty in a humorous, entertaining way, making dysfunction and struggle appear normal or even desirable.

The Jeremy Kyle Show demonises the working class by often portraying them as irresponsible, aggressive, and reliant on benefits, reinforcing negative stereotypes and class divisions.

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.

Roger, a wealthy banker, represents the elite and is shown abusing his power by getting Quentina, a working-class black woman, fired. This reflects the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class.

The show highlights class inequality as a naturalised idea, with working-class characters struggling while the wealthy remain comfortable.

Roger and Arabella’s privilege is presented as unearned, challenging the capitalist narrative that success is purely based on hard work.

However, Capital does not present a clear “failed revolt” against capitalism—while the characters face hardships, they do not openly challenge the system.

Overall, Capital critiques capitalism by exposing systemic inequalities, yet it does not offer a radical alternative, instead highlighting the struggles of those within the system.