TV: Capital, Marxism and Hegemony

Mail Online review of Capital


1)  Re-read the Mail Online review of Capital. Why does it suggest that Capital features a left-wing ideology?
The cynical review of Capital suggests that the TV drama features a left-wing ideology because of the characters and narratives it depicts. For example, the positive representation of Quentina, who is an illegally working immigrant, promotes immigration, which is a left-wing ideology. Furthermore, the negative representation of the elite (in this case Roger the banker) and the positive representation of Muslim's further reinforces this idea. This review is particularly critical of Capital because of the fact that it is from The Daily Mail, a newspaper that is majorly right-wing.

2) Choose three quotes from the review that are particularly critical of Capital and paste them into your blogpost. Do you agree with the criticisms? Why?
'With a fizzle like a firework on a wet night, Capital (BBC1) dribbled to a soggy ending.' - Although I do believe that the ending of the TV drama seemed a little rushed and anti climatic, I think that the writer of this article is over exaggerating too much because the ending and the whole of Capital was exceptional.

'Capital was as stuffed full with fashionable causes as Jeremy Corbyn’s function diary.' - Yes I do agree with this statement because Capital did seem to be aimed mostly to a working class audience and the narrative and characters in the drama reflected this. However, I believe this is a positive thing and don't agree with the writer's negative tone regarding the issue.

'She was deported, though she did find time to teach English to some of her fellow saints at the detention centre.' - This statement is extremely distasteful and quite shocking. The writer's sarcastic tone of 'fellow saints' seems to be mocking the people who (for many reasons) may find themselves in a detention centre. I disagree with this tone because many immigrants are in detention centres for the wrong reasons and they are good people who don't deserve it. The writer is also extremely unsympathetic of the fact that Quentina was deported, the polar opposite reaction the producers of the drama would expect from an audience.

3) What scenes or characters from Capital could be read as promoting left-wing ideology?

• The scene when Roger receives his bonus and states 'What use is 30 grand?
• The scenes with Quentina and how the audience is encouraged to sympathise with her
• The scenes showing the Muslim family as kind and generous people, especially when he gave Arabella free coriander.  

4) What about the other side of the argument - are there any aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London?
Yes there are some aspects of Capital that reinforce the status quo in capitalist London. For example, the richest character in the drama is a British-white male. His whole company seems to be run predominately by white men as well. 

Media Magazine feature on BBC drama The Casual Vacancy and ideology

Now go to our Media Magazine archive and read the feature 'The Beeb, The Mail and JKR' in MM53 (page 20). This focuses on the politics of The Casual Vacancy, another BBC three-part drama based on a book by JK Rowling.

Answer the questions below:

1) Why did the Daily Mail suggest The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology?

The Daily Mail suggested that The Casual Vacancy promoted a left-wing ideology because of the way it ridiculed the wealthier residents and shamed them for their plot to sell off the local food bank and rehab centre- Sweetlove House, where drug addicts and those in need are offered assistance.

2) How does the article suggest characters, narrative and setting are used to promote a left-wing ideology?

Barry Fairbrother, although an irrelevant character in the novel, is the hero of the TV drama adaptation. He is the one who continually invests in Sweetlove House and is against shutting it down to turn it in to a spa. 

Howard Mollison, a character who is better off financally in the drama, is presented really negatively in the series. He is seen shouting at some children through the window of his bakery shop. When he finds out that Barry, a character he despises, is dead, he is seen handing around pastries and coffees. (Watch below)

3) What research is quoted regarding BBC bias and what did it find? Do you think the BBC is biased?

The BBC is always being criticised as being bias and favouring left-wing ideology. However, a study conducted by Dr Mike Berry of Cardiff University (and commissioned by the BBC Trust itself) found that the BBC veered more to the right than to the left.

Personally, I'm not sure if the BBC is bias. They do promote a lot of left-wing ideology shows, such as Capital and The Casual Vacancy, but they also have many other shows that aren't politically centred. Also, the way they deliver their news seems fair and unbiased.

4) Gramsci's theory of hegemony suggests people are kept under control through active consent - the control of 'common sense'. How could you apply the Daily Mail or the BBC to the idea of hegemony and dominant ideologies in the UK media?

The Daily Mail promotes right-wing ideologies and their audience is therefore very narrow minded when it comes to certain issues, such as immigration, racism and Muslims. For example, look at the comments left on the Daily Mail review of Capital below-

As we can see, the comments agree with the horrific review. This means that we can apply Gramsci's theory to this and state that the Daily Mail has been constantly bombarding their readers with negative articles concerning these issues that they now have the same mindset as the journalists. It appears to be 'common sense' to them but to others it can be seen as a shock.