Ideology

"A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy; the set of beliefs characteristic of a social group or individual" (OED)

-sets of ideas which give some account of the social world

-power is distributed socially

Examples: Political Ideologies

-Competing claims

Example: "libertarianism" :tea party vs. social democracy

-self vs. social

-individual's collective

insider: ideological claims seem obviously true and universally applicable

outsider: ideological claims seem obviously false, arbitrary and idiosyncratic

"Politics is not only fought out in state houses, workplaces or on battlefields, but also in the language we use, the stories we tell, and the images we conjure - in short, in the ways we make sense of the world." (Stephen Duncombe)

The Role of Perspective

It is based on your ideology. For example, if someone is fighting for your side, they are a hero, if they are fighting for opposing side considered terrorist

-Power relationships are characterized and maintained by ideologies

-Ideologies may be forcefully imposed or willingly subscribed to (or both)

-Held consciously or unconsciously

Example: capitalism

Hegemony

"Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others." (OED)

"Preponderant influence or authority over others; social, cultural, ideological, or economical influence exerted by a dominant group." (MW)

One common question can sum up the hegemonic ideology of our society...

"What do you do?"

What the question says vs. what the question means

-"doing" = "living" = "working"

-Who you are is conflated with how you work (how you earn money)

-we are reduced to our general position in labor force

Ideology shapes the story, the narrative of our lives

-connects to history and epistemology

Our story or narrative is not a universal constant

-ideals are shaped by ideologies

-we value whatever is valued within our society

Presented as "natural", "obvious" and "common sense"

-it is what it is

-socially constructed

What is "Normal"?

"Normal" = "It is what it is"

Things differs from society to society, which allows people to look at norms from different eyes

Within any culture or society, numerous ideologies coexist

Antonio Gramsci

-Cultural hegemony

-Marxist thinker

-political prisoner in Italy

He provides an interesting window into how ideology and hegemony functions and how they go hand in hand

Cultural Hegemony

Definition: The theory that the ruling class of a given society superimposes its values on the lower classes, thereby persuading the lower classes to accept the status quo, despite this being against their better interests.

-assumptions, meanings, values = reality

-how the dominant culture maintains that dominant position by persuading that this is normal

Cultural hegemony is facilitated by the " Cultural Industry" (Adorno)

-resistance is minimized by using the very tools of that culture itself: tv, film, news, etc. :MEDIA

-"needs" are manufactured and then fulfilled by the culture industry

-what is popular, what values are shared, what ideals are elevated, what lifestyle is aspired toward

Even dissenting groups become "target markets," consumers

-resistance reinforces hegemony

-"demographic" characteristics

-"buying into" resistance

-Displaying identity with material goods

Mass culture and "The Culture Industry"

-culture forms become products for selling to populations

-culture industry: something constructed or manufactured likened to a factory: an endless reproduction of the same

"Culture Industry" = promoting acceptance and reproduction of norms of a given society

Representation = Power

*Everything is ideological (MAP)

Today's hegemonic ideology is tomorrow's dominant narrative of history

BUT, ideologies are not static!