Marxism - Theory Representation

Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) was a German philosopher who believed that material goods are at the root of the social world. He said that dominant classes create dominant ideology: how culture is constructed in a way that enables the groups holding the power to have maximum control with the minimum conflict. His theory looks at how society is built in 'classes' and argues that lower classes cannot better themselves and that upper class people are the powerful and control ideological views put to society.

His idea/theory..

He stated that power was held by a minority group known as the 'elite' or the 'bourgeoisie'. He said that these people have access to capital and because of this they could use their money and power and keep within their group to make more wealth. He said that the majority of the population (the average public) the 'mass' or 'proletariat' had their labour to help them make a living. Marx stated because of this industrialization, the elite were the only ones who had access to means of production.

Because the elite help the money and the power it meant that the mass were dependent on the elite, the elite took advantage of this power and to maximize their own profits and accountability they need to get as much labour for as little money possible. Because the workers were dependent on the elite for resources and money the elite group needed the mass of people to accept their role as powerless workers. This basically means the rich are powerful and have lots of money and the rest of the public work for the rich to be able to earn a living, the public have to accept their role in society. They use the public to make money, and if they don't do it, then they have no role or purpose.

How can this theory be used in the media?

Mediation of media can relate back to this theory in a way that the people who are rich, and also hold ideological power. Therefore they can present messages to the word in ways they want people to perceive. The media can control messages and what is shown to give messages about groups of people within certain classes. For example, the ideologies of reality TV shows.