The Marxist Theory View on Ownership - Essay Example

Mass media and Marxism Theories Mass media Current trends in mass media ownership The Marxist Theory view on ownership, and controlof the mass media" Mass media and Marxism theories The ruling class has utilized mass media as an effective tool in manipulation of the masses. It has been used to shape attitudes and opinions and described what is acceptable in the society. Effects of mass media through televisions, newspapers, books, radio, records and the internet has been widely felt in the human population. Utilization of communication has led to increased democracy as well as suitable tool for dictatorship. It has continually been used in politics, marketing and public relations. Sociological theories have therefore been vital in studying the development undergone by the mass media championed by contemporary and traditional thinkers. Marxism Karl Marx’s economic and political philosophy engages the role of class struggle in transformation of the society from suppression under capitalism towards the socialist classless type of society. It propagates that capitalism will be overrun by communism. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels define ideology to be “The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas. The class which has the means of material production at its disposal has control at the same time over the means of mental production.” This implies that the system of ideas that the ruling class possess is what is considered society’s ideologies. This gives the ruling class dominance of ideas. Marxian viewpoint therefore confront those of neo-classical economics and this theory explains politics and economics in the light of culture and ideology (Donham, 1990). The media as well is termed as a tool that the ruling class uses to disseminate ideas to the society that are favorable to them. Those that own the production means are perceived as the most influential and authoritative. Under classical Marxism, society is viewed as an arena in which the struggle of interests of different class exists. Karl Marx points out that the press is open to the means that ideology is instituted to ensure that the dominant class remains in centre of the economic and political issues in the capitalist society. His thinking has been a centre of discussion in the media community. George Lukacs, a Hungararian Marxist, argued that certain ideologies are identical to given class of individuals within the society such as bourgeois consciousness. Views presented by the media are legitimately impacted to the society (The Marxist Tradition). Karl Marx has been explained as a revolutionist, social theorist as well as an economist. He propagates that the ideas upheld by the dominant class of individuals are actually the ruling ideas. He notes that this dominant class is in charge of mental production, that is, ideas production, and they ensure that their views are dominant to those ideas held by other subordinate classes within the society. The economy is the foundation of society’s culture and ideas and therefore this ruling class uses the media as a “weapon.” He therefore points a finger to the failure of the mass media to change the society as opposed to maintaining status quo (The Marxist Tradition). Hegemonic Marxism argues that the ruling class joins in the cultural struggle so as to attain their control. The media has been used to help the ruling class win consent of the working class contrary to liberal pluralists who believe in the mass media’s role in promotion of freedom of speech. Social groups may be given a set of beliefs from the ruling class but they have to internalize and make them workable to them. The mass media therefore is better placed to control individuals’ social consciousness ( Lawson et at, 2000). In the recent case of the report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, use of fraud was revealed. Professor Tol, a high profile climate economist and one of the leading authors pointed out that the 260 page report was alarming and it entitled “scare stories.” This provides evidential support of the way the media has been compromised in spreading of ideas that are meant to achieve and end by the propagators. He even outlined his reluctance to associate his name with the report because it actually exaggerated the effects of global warming. Part of the report read, “…both drought and flood will keep increasing, the number of refugees will climb sharply, and we risk civil wars and intergroup violence.” Some scholars point out that it is difficult to find a relationship between migration and environmental degradation. Prof Tol in addition that the report’s conclusion that climate change puts a threat to human existence is a joke given that humans have survived in different conditions given that human beings are adaptable and tough (Herald Sun: How the IPCC report was doctored to scare you) In 1994, Andrew Neil came up with various articles regarding corruption by the government of Malasya. He outlined that Mahathir Mohammed, the Malaysian Prime Minister alleged that New’s Corporation satellite TV service could not be welcome in Asia. Murdoch rejected the continual publication of such articles, which led to his resignation. Neil presents the role of journalism to business interests of the dominant societal groups who tend to impose their ideologies. Marxism theory is revealed that the mass media has been the center of influence where the ruling class has impacted ideologies to other societal groups (Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on Communications, 2008). Accusation was placed on the employees in the New Corporation regarding police bribery and phone hacking. It was conclusively held that these acts were reserved for members of the British royal family. The public pressure however led to cancellation of Sky’s takeover. Evidently the ruling class has been in the centre of societal ideologies and use of the media has been employed to achieve their objectives. Hegemonic Marxism propagates that the power of ideologies from the ruling class is derived from acceptance of other society groups. Use of force here is inapplicable. Habitual attitudes, perceived as commonsensical, from dominant groups are assimilated and serve specific needs of other groups. Media as one of the channel works semi-independently without direct control. Hegemony refers to the way social groups are handed with set of beliefs from dominant class but internalize them without use of force (Lawson, 2000). Molyneux gives us the reminder that media is pro-capitalism and it is “profoundly, politically and socially, ideologically and culturally biased.” He also notes that its power is limited and thus the servant and not master of the society. He propagates for information, revolution and Marxist approaches. It is only when capitalism will be overthrown will true mass media democracy be realized. The role of the media in Israel/Pakistan conflict is seen as misinforming the public and further twisting the conflict. By focusing on Israeli’s overseas arm, Israel is taking advantage of the media billionaires. There has also been intimidation unto objective journalists. To the public there is helplessness, lack of interest and no possibility of change. The media could be used to offer alternatives to the conflict resolution rather than fueling it up. Pluralists believe that freedom of the media can be achieved and can be a useful tool to change ideologies for the societal well being instead of handing down those of the ruling class (Donhan, 1990). Nick Davies also notes that journalists have continually been in interference by the governments and media owners with legislations inhibiting search for truth. Journalists have transformed from active gatherers of news to processors of second hand news handed over for political or commercial interests. They have distorted what should be available to the public. Coca cola has also been influential through their intensified advertisements and promotions through mass media. They have explicitly promoted their brand as a superior brand through aggression that has resulted to similar perception to the public consumers. Advertisements also could not exhibit a truly equitable value that the public expects but aggressive advertisement wins the hearts of the consumers (Donham, 1990). Conclusion Marxism helps explain the role of the media on the societal ideologies. The dominant groups impose a set of beliefs unto other less dominant societal groups and their ideologies are deemed the society’s ideologies. The mass media has been the main proponent in the achievement of this goal. Classical Marxists believe mass media is manipulated to carry on these ideologies whereas hegemonic Marxists believe the media operate semi-independently and can therefore the active role, not in aiding ruling class impose these ideologies but work for the common good of the society. References Donham, D. L. (1990). History, Power, Ideology: Central Issues in Marxism and Anthropology. Los Angeles: University of California Press. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: Select Committee on Communications, B. (2008). The Ownership of the News: Report. Norwich: The Stationery Office. Lawson, M. J. (2000). Advanced Sociology Through Diagrams. Los Angeles: Oxford University Press, 2000. The Marxism theory: http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/rdover/med-stud/ii_the_m.htm accessed on 16th April 2014 Herald Sun: How the IPCC report was doctored to scare you: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ : accessed on 16th April 2014 Read More