Marxism: Althusser

Question 1

What type of Marxist reading does Althusser conduct?

Answer 1

offers a structuralist version of Marxisim

Question 2

What is a main aim of Althusser?

Answer 2

to explore how relations of production reproduce themselves

Question 3

What does ideology represent for Althusser?

Answer 3

ideology represents imaginary relations

Question 4

What does Althusser believe about subjects?

Answer 4

subjects are questioned by ideology

individuals submit freely to ideology as subjects

Question 5

RSA (Repressive State Apparatus)

Answer 5

1. RSA (Repressive State Apparatus)- functions mainly by repression/ secondarily by ideology
   * uses force/violence to keep the ruling class in line- public institution
   ex. police, courts, army, prison system
   * physical coercion sometimes to repress the working class

Question 6

Ideological State Apparatus (ISA)

Answer 6

functions by ideology/ secondarily by repression 
	*maintains control over ruling class by controlling religion, ideas, values, and beliefs- 
	normalizing cultural organizations- media too 
	*the education system
		*2 main functions
			1. Education cyclically encourages class inequality (gen. to gen.) for the 
			working class
2.	Education encourages working class to accept their inferior status- creates set of beliefs that explain and justify it

Question 7

What enables capitalism to maintain dominance?

Answer 7

RSA and ISA

Question 8

What is the function of the superstructure?

Answer 8

maintains and legitimizes the base

*education, family, religion, politics, mass media

Question 9

What is interpolation?

Answer 9

hailing (process of recognizing oneself as a subject)

	ex. responding to the call of the police
		* you answer and recognize yourself as a subject of the law
		* fear consequences- this depends on who you think they think you are