Media- Neo-Marxism

Question 1

What is hegemony?

Answer 1

Using ideas and values to legitimise ruling class power and see as ‘common sense’ so that those providing alternative views are seen as deviant

Question 2

What do Neo-Marxists believe the media has a key role in doing?

Answer 2

Strengthening ruling class hegemony since media has such a wide reach in society

Question 3

Who do Neo-Marxists believe control the media? What do they do?

Answer 3

Media professionals- journalists and broadcasters who tend to be white, male, middle class and promote ruling class hegemonic ideas because they themselves share norms+values of the dominant culture in society

They consciously seek to meet demands of the market and reflect the audience interests to make profit but in doing so subtly reinforce norms+values of ruling class

Question 4

How does hegemony operate in the media? What does it ensure?

Answer 4

Operates in media representations as social groups that are seen as threatening to white, middle class males are marginalised via negative portrayals and are subject to ridicule as a way of neutralising ideas that are a threat to maintain the status-quo

Question 5

What does Hall say about stereotypes in the media?

Answer 5

There are 3 main stereotypes of black people, unconscious racism- typically portray them as the source of the problem:
•Native(noble, appear in anonymous masses in contacts to 1 solitary white hereo)
•Clown(entertainer)
•Slave(devoted, untrustworthy, cunning)

Question 6

What does GMG about representations of migration in the media?

Answer 6

The Tv reflects views of political leaders, leading to reoccurring themes:
•conflation of forced and economic immigration( grouping those who are fleeing their country from war to seek refuge with those looking for a better lifestyle)
•threatening numbers of migrants
•burden on welfare and job market
•criminality, threat and deportation
•problems facing asylum seekers rarely shown and benefits they can bring not shown

Question 7

What did Sutton trust discover?

Answer 7

Journalists tend to be white, middle class, male and over 50% private schooled

Question 8

What are the evaluations of Neo-Marxism?

Answer 8

•ignores improvements in representations of social groups
•ignores increasing amount of media products that gives more opportunities for social groups to be presented fair
•ignores increase in media professional diversity w/ more backgrounds and perspectives
•good and thorough research by GMG using qualitative+quantitative methods