Marxists

Question 1

Marxist view

Answer 1

Marxists believe that the media is part of a superstructure of society and it supports the economic base, which is controlled by the bourgeoise. 
They believe that the ruling class use the media to transmit their, in order to make the existing and unequal society seem and natural 
The media is seen to create false class consciousness - helps working class people to view themselves are being treated fairly - in reality there is a large divide 
Marxists are opposed to mainstream media as they believe it helps to maintain an unfair society and stops people from thinking critically.

Question 2

Milliband (1969) - Study

Answer 2

Argued that the ruling class use the media to control society by creating a false picture of reality that present capitalism in a positive way.

• He says that the media presents inequalities created by capitalism in ways which make it look natural and inevitable.
• He believed that the media to be the opium of people by saying that media is and institution which acts like a drug to produce the illusion of happiness. It takes the proletariats attention away from exploitation.

Question 3

Evaluation of marxist view

Answer 3

It ignore inequalities such as gender and ethnicity. Feminists would definite disagree that inequality is caused purely by wealth and class divide - many theorsits who believe that there are alternative influences on media and its inequality and therefore marxists do not paint the whole.
Media owners are in competition with each other . Therefore, they are not going to be working together to keep the proletariats in their place - in order to gain profit.
Lots of journalists who construct positive representations of females and ethnic minorities - this further criticism that the white, middle class men are the bourgeoise who the ideologies. 
Milliband wrote his ideas in 1969 - historically bias - times have changed and the media has shifted.
Some marxists would criticise the postmodernist view that the media offers choice . They would argue that the media representations are there to serve the interest of people with wealth and power.