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?

The review suggests that Capital feels like something straight out of Jeremy Corbyn's diary, given his left-wing views and political correctness. The overall critique points out that the show comes across as overly "woke," deliberately avoiding offense to certain groups in society, particularly, the British upper class.

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?

"anti terror police who were, naturally, bigoted and faceless. The crusading lawyer (a woman, of course)"

The choice of words in Capital highlights how the left-wing often views anti-terrorism police as bigoted and faceless. The sarcastic listing of these negative descriptors shows clear disagreement with the way the show portrays them. "Bigoted" suggests an irrational prejudice against people based on their group membership. For the audience of Mail Online, this contrast is clear, where they typically see anti-terror police as heroes, the show uses negative adjectives that paint them in an unflattering light. Similarly, the portrayal of the woman as a lawyer seems to be another example of the show pushing a "woke" agenda, which may not sit well with some viewers.

"Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn's function diary" 

I feel the review caters more to the Mail Online audience by framing this as a negative aspect, suggesting that Capital is just following the crowd to be "fashionable." The review doesn't just criticise left-wing views, but also takes aim at the Labour Party. The use of the word "stuffed" implies that the show focused too much on being politically correct, and it suggests that the plot of Capital ended up being less engaging than it initially seemed.

"Everything British came in for a dose of loathing"

The Mail Online criticises how Capital portrays different groups, but this time, the review takes issue with the negative portrayal. I think the review is sort of exaggerated about how these groups are presented. In contrast, I believe the show actually celebrates some aspects of British culture, like highlighting the grandeur of the city through sweeping shots of London and its financial district. It also captures the sense of community, especially with the family at the corner shop who help Arabella, showing the more positive side of everyday life.

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

The stark divide and inequality between the wealthy residents and the working-class people of Pepys Road reflects the left-wing view that there are unjust inequalities in society. Characters like Petunia, who is vulnerable and lonely, Quentina, who works tirelessly just to get by, and the Kamal family, who face disadvantages, all highlight this idea. The show suggests that certain groups are at a disadvantage in life due to factors beyond their control, like their background or age, even if they're hardworking.

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

Roger, the wealthiest character on Pepys Road, is a middle-aged white British man who we see heading to work early in the morning, clearly stressed in his office. This could suggest the idea that in order to be successful, you have to feel stressed and work hard, and if you're not successful, it's because you're not working hard enough. However, this is challenged in Capital, as we see Quentina, who works incredibly hard but earns very little and ends up in prison because she'd rather face hardship in the UK than return to a dangerous situation in her home country. Additionally, in all the families on Pepys Road, the male character is the primary breadwinner, which could reinforce traditional, patriarchal views.

Task 2: Media Factsheet - Applying Marxism 

1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society?

The elite hold all the power, using their wealth to accumulate even more, while the rest of society relies on them.

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

This is because the winner of the show gets a high-paying job thanks to their strong business skills. The qualities emphasised are confidence, extroversion, and the ability to work well with others, without standing out too much as an individual.The winner of the show gets a high-paying job thanks to their strong business skills. The qualities emphasised are confidence, extroversion, and the ability to work well with others, without standing out too much as an individual.

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 abuses his power, causing Quentina to be arrested without even realising the impact of his actions. He doesn’t care because he doesn’t have to. Meanwhile, Quentina is arrested simply for trying to survive, and there's nothing she can do about it because she doesn't have the power to fight back. The police never question wealthy people like Roger, but they’re quick to investigate Quentina.