Marxist or Neo-Marxist - Ownership

Question 1

Those who own the means of production (the bourgeoisie) try to keep their powerful position through their ownership and control of ideological institutions.

Answer 1

Traditional Marxist

Question 2

Controllers oversee operation of a media company but owners ultimately decide who to employ and which stance to take.

Answer 2

Traditional Marxist

Question 3

Ownership and control is used to create a false consciousness based on what is beneficial to the interests of the most powerful people in society

Answer 3

Traditional Marxist

Question 4

There are two interconnected objectives:
Economic = to make profits
Ideological = trying to control how people see the social world. The media is used as a tool through which ideas, beliefs and behaviours are manipulated.

Answer 4

Traditional Marxist

Question 5

Ideology is constantly transmitted to us via institutions such as schools and churches – eventually the views of the ruling class become ‘common sense’

Answer 5

Neo-Marxist

Question 6

Owners and controllers are locked into a relationship that is mutually beneficial (hegemony)

Answer 6

Neo-Marxist

Question 7

Owners cannot easily control large transnational companies so they employ people who reflect their views and people who can be relied on to make money

Answer 7

Neo-Marxist

Question 8

Both owners and controllers have a basic common interest – they both want to make money – they control media content unconsciously in order to meet this end.

Answer 8

Neo-Marxist