Ideological Criticism (Discussion)

Key terms in ideological criticism

Television and Mimi White's chapter in Channels of Discourse both present key terms and concepts involved in the study of ideology--including the term "ideology" itself. Blending these definitions together, devise a definition for the following specific terms.

Group 2

1. "Social classes", specifically:
   • "Aristocracy"
   • "Bourgeoisie" (pronounced "boor-jhwah-zee")
   • "Proletariat"
2. "Ruling class"
   • What is the current ruling class in the U.S?

Group 3

1. "Means of production"
2. "Dominant ideology"
   • What are some examples of values/ideas belonging to the dominant ideology today, in the U.S?

Group 4

1. "Base" -- also known as "infrastructure"
2. "Superstructure"

How does one relate to the other?

Group 1

1. "Hegemony" (pronounced "heh-GEM-own-ee")

Cite an example of hegemony in action in contemporary U.S. culture.

All groups

1. Define "ideology," according to Marx; and according to more current theorists. What are the main ways in which current theories differ from Marx's original theory?
2. Define "discourse," according to John Fiske. In particular, how is a discourse a "coherent set of meanings"? How can discourse be seen in action in Roseanne?
3. Define "social formation," according to Louis Althusser (pronounced "loo-ee alt-hoo-ser"). In "relative autonomy".
   1. Economic
   2. Political
   3. Ideological

Bibliography

1. Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.
2. Robert C. Allen, Channels of Discourse, Reassembled, second edition (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992).

See also

• Ideological Criticism II (Discussion)

External links

• Chapter 13 illustrations