The role of the media

Question 1

Four statements about Marxism and the Role of the Media:

Answer 1

1. A NEGATIVE view of socialisation through the mass media
2. The socialisation of individuals through the mass media benefits capitalism and the ruling class
3. The mass media is seen as having a powerful influence on audiences
4. Audiences are therefore seen as ‘passive’

Question 2

What is Miliband’s view on Marxism and the Role of the Media?

Date

Answer 2

Miliband (1973): The ruling class use the media to transmit dominant/capitalist ideology to the proletariat. This can create a harmful mass culture. We learn our class identities through the media. The media is the new ‘opium of the people’.

1973

Question 3

What did March and Keating say about Marxism and the Role of the Media?

Date

Answer 3

Marsh and Keating (2006) state ‘Popular culture is a false culture devised and packaged by capitalism to keep the masses content’.

2006.

Question 4

What did Marcuse say about Marxism and the Role of the Media?

Date

Answer 4

Marcuse (1964) argues that popular culture, such as TV and advertising has had a negative effect on culture because as it creates ‘false needs’ (such as buying non-essential material goods) and discourages critical thought, such as realising and retaliating to the social inequalities caused by capitalism.

1964

Question 5

Critical Comment on the Role of the Media in the Marxism Section.

Answer 5

We are socialised by the media into not being able to think for ourselves. Critical thought is not encouraged by the media which has undergone a process of ‘dumbing down’ (Barnett) whereby we are socialised into not being able to think for ourselves

Question 6

Feminist view on Marxism and the Role of the Media

Answer 6

Feminists criticise Marxists for focusing exclusively on class and capitalist ideology, thereby failing to account for gender stereotypes that are transmitted through the media.

Question 7

Interactionists view on Marxism and the Role of the Media

Answer 7

Interactionists disagree with this view. From an ‘action’-based approach the ‘active audience model’ sees the audience as not passively consuming media, but actively selecting what they want to take from the messages in the media and even being critical of them.