Marxist Persp. KEY TERMS

Question 1

The meaning of Miliband’s description for media being ‘the opium of the people’?

Answer 1

The media acts as an opium, a hallucinatory drug which creates illusions and produces a feeling of wellbeing. (This keeps the w.c. quiet/encourages them to accept a system which, in reality, exploits them)

Question 2

Define Gramsci’s term ‘Cultural Hegemony’?

Answer 2

The dominant ideas and beliefs in society.

Question 3

Define Allocative control?

Answer 3

The power to set the goals of an organisation

make key financial decisions rather than day-to-day control.

Question 4

Infrastructure?

Answer 4

The economic base of society

Question 5

Superstructure

Answer 5

The rest of society, including the mass media.

Question 6

Define ‘Meanings of Production’?

Answer 6

The things used to produce goods - eg. machinery and raw materials

Question 7

Who are the ruling class?

Answer 7

Those who own the means of production

Question 8

who are the Subject class?

Answer 8

Those who actually produce the goods

Question 9

What is the ruling class ideology?

Answer 9

A false and distorted picture of society which supports the position of the ruling class

Question 10

Define False class consenus

Answer 10

A false picture of the class system which prevents people from seeing the reality of their situation.