NMD: Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony are some of the most challenging theories we'll learn - but also extremely relevant to the case study we're working on.

These theories go to the heart of whether the media elite or the audience have the power in a 21st century digital world. There are compelling arguments to both sides and recent world events only add fuel to this debate. Complete the tasks below to reinforce the work you've done in the lesson.

Bonus reading: Hegemony and the Hunger Games

I've got some slightly off-topic reading to get you started. There is a reference to hegemony in a Guardian article about the last Hunger Games film that could also be linked to feminism (therefore relevant to many of your critical investigations). Read the article on the Hunger Games and at least 15 comments below the line. How does this link to what we've learned about hegemony?

Main task

Read the Media Magazine article ‘Web 2.0: Participation or Hegemony?'. Go to our archive of Media Magazine issues and click on MM39 - the article you need is on page 58. Answer the following questions:

1) Research the Ian Tomlinson case. What would the traditional, hegemonic view of the police be in a case like this? How did new and digital media create a different story? What does the police officer's subsequent acquittal suggest about the power of new and digital media?

A Traditional Hegemonic view would suggest that the police officer made an honest mistake an they were ultimately trying to do their job and protect the public. The honest mistake would have been made through Tomlinson's body language, the insinuation of danger would have caused the police to act on instinct. 

New and digital media isn't as powerful as people believed, the officer was acquitted of his crimes regardless of the overwhelming suggestion and belief in the police officers fault 

2) What does the author argue regarding whether hegemony is being challenged by Web 2.0? 

IN 1979 Blair Peach was murdered and no one was charged. It is suggested that before the internet there would be no chance of justice. The idea of justice actually being a potential result shows that traditional hegemonic views are being tried - the powerful are slowly being held accountable.

3) In your opinion, does new and digital media reinforce dominant hegemonic views or give the audience a platform to challenge them?

I think that new/digital media challenges dominant hegemonic views. The upper class have little to not control over what happens particularly online so, as a result, the lower classes have as much power as the higher classes online. The idea of class is almost non existent online. However certain sites are ruled by certain people whom monitor and sometimes control. People are also stuck in echo chambers both that they may be aware of or not aware of. People are easily able to only view certain opinions if they follow dominant hegemonic views - they are only going to be reinforced.

4) Do recent world events such as Brexit or Donald Trump's election in the US suggest dominant hegemonic ideologies are being challenged or reinforced? There are arguments for both sides here - explain your opinion and why.

Hegemonic ideologies are being reinforced - however there is space and acknowledgement of them being challenged even though there is no overall effect. Despite many reasons to believe Trump wasn't even remotely capable of being President and a general oppositional view online - he still triumphed in the electoral vote only. With brexit similarly - only older more higher classed people voted to remain. They were the ones who made the overall decision within the democratic vote. however - it may just be an age factor rather than class - the youth have completely different views to the elderly.