Marxism & 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 of Capital reflects a left‑wing perspective by criticising the series for having an underdeveloped narrative and a lack of meaningful plot. It also highlights that audiences were dissatisfied with the slow pacing in certain scenes, suggesting that the show could have made these moments more engaging to maintain viewer interest.

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 last 20 minutes contained no plot." "You can be certain it wasn’t the plot that attracted the BBC drama department in the first place." "...until I was gnawing my knuckles with frustration. Honestly, you’ll get rid of your family after Christmas faster than this feeble drama departed."

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

One scene shows Roger being denied his bonus despite his hard work, leaving him visibly deflated. This reinforces capitalist inequality by suggesting that financial rewards are reserved for those in higher social positions rather than ordinary workers. Another key moment is the arrest of one of the Pakistani brothers after police suspect him of distributing the “WE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE” postcards. This sequence highlights racial profiling, portraying the family as vulnerable and powerless during the arrest.

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce right-wing or capitalist viewpoints?
There were multiple scenes that shows how the housing prices are increasing which shows how capitalism are desperate to gain profit from the housing prices and they may have taken advantage of the idea of more people migrating to the UK.

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?

The Marxism suggest that the power in society is controlled by the elite or the bourgeouisie, where people in the society only has their labour while the elites owns the means of production and they expected the mass to just accept their position as powerless workers. 

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

The Apprentice offers a clear example of the media reinforcing capitalist ideology, as it centres on contestants competing for a job controlled entirely by a single elite figure, Lord Alan Sugar. The structure of the show positions the applicants as dependent on his authority, emphasising how ordinary people must compete for limited opportunities within a system dominated by those at the top. This reflects a wider capitalist message: the masses have little control over their future and must rely on their labour, which is ultimately governed by elite decision‑makers. The programme also promotes the idea that workers should accept their subordinate position, normalising the power imbalance between the elite and the working population.

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.

Gogglebox – Fetishising Working‑Class Life 

Gogglebox often presents working‑class families as cheerful, close‑knit, and living comfortable, drama‑free lives. By focusing on humour, warmth, and everyday relaxation, the show creates an idealised version of working‑class Britain that overlooks real issues such as financial insecurity, overcrowded housing, or unstable employment. This romanticised portrayal communicates the idea that working‑class life is simple and content, which helps reinforce the hegemonic belief that society is fair and that class inequality is not a serious problem.

The Sun – Demonising Working‑Class and Poor People

Tabloid newspapers like The Sun frequently publish stories that label benefit claimants as “scroungers” or “workshy”, using extreme cases to imply that most unemployed or low‑income people are dishonest or lazy. This demonisation encourages audiences to blame individuals for their poverty rather than recognising structural issues such as low wages, job shortages, or rising living costs. By framing poor people as a burden on society, the media reinforces capitalist ideology, shifting attention away from the elite and promoting the belief that the working class should accept their position.

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.

One example of hegemony in Capital is the way the values of the power elite are presented as “natural” or “right”. This is shown when Roger is denied the bonus he expected despite working hard. The scene positions this unfair treatment as something normal that workers are simply expected to accept. Roger’s quiet disappointment reinforces the idea that the masses are vulnerable and controlled by those above them—in this case, his boss. His lack of resistance also reflects how the working class often internalise elite values, accepting their position rather than challenging the system.

Another idea shown in the episode is the suggestion that being part of the masses is positive and community‑focused. This appears in the neighbourhood meeting about the mysterious postcards, where residents come together to discuss what is happening on Pepys Road. Even the police, representing the state, appear to be helping the community, which creates a sense of unity among ordinary people. However, the show also hints at subtle class and cultural divisions. For example, when Arabella visits the corner shop, the shopkeeper’s daughter goes upstairs to fetch items they do not stock, showing a sense of closeness and service within the Asian family. In contrast, Roger’s family rarely interacts with them and prefer to shop elsewhere, suggesting a quiet social distance between middle‑class and working‑class or minority families.

A further example of hegemonic messaging is the idea that the actions of the elite are “for the good of the masses”, even when they are unpleasant. This is shown when the police arrest one of the Pakistani brothers for the postcards, despite him being innocent. The authorities justify their actions as necessary to protect the community from a perceived threat. However, the scene exposes how the elite can misuse power and target vulnerable groups under the claim of maintaining order, reinforcing the imbalance between those who hold power and those who are subjected to it.