Louis Althusser

The concept of ideology seems to be a fundamental term in “Ideology and The Ideological State Apparatuses” of Louis Althusser who, taking a similar stand to that of Marx, reaffirmed the role played by ideologies in sustaining the role of the capitalist class in society through the dominant ideological apparatus that is the school. In this essay, in order to comprehend Althusser’s reasons on why the school playsvirus9v a salient role in perpetuating the “subjection to the ruling ideology” (133), one will first define ideology. An attempt will also be made in providing the description Althusser gave of the school and teachers in contemporary society and also in explaining the way interpellation manifest itself in the classroom setting. Ideologies…

In the excerpts from Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses, Louis Althusser aims to explain the reasons for why the cinematography has acquired its ideological nature in the first place. Although the scholar’s theories are applicable to multiple spheres of people’s activity excluding a film industry and seem way too old-fashioned, still, they promote one’s understanding of the issue discussed in the current research. In describing his concept of the State Apparatus, Louis Althusser argues…

Essay I: Ideology, a term that we all know exists, but very few truly understand the essence that lies behind such a word. Many questions arise when one thinks of ideology such as, but not limited to, “What is ideology?” and “Where do individuals come to acquire their ideology, as in is it born into the genetics that make up who they are, or is it created through the experiences of their life?”. Louis Althusser was a 20th century French philosopher that devoted much of his life to the study of…

In his essay “The Bipartite System of Laws in Paradise Lost" Eric Dunnum argues that in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, man’s fall can be attributed to a system, set by God, that reflects that which is also used by historical kings and governments of the world. This system is a set of laws that is, as the title suggests, bipartite, which means that it is composed of two separate entities that come together to form a whole, and Dunnum’s argument often relies on the works of Louis Althusser to expand…

have an impact on the people that reside within them. Social structures help us define who we are in a society and how we function within that society. Elements such as race, class and gender help us determine what our role is within the social structure. Our behavior, decisions, and thoughts are all influenced by the social norms that we all follow. Within this binding, it is crucial for us to understand and be aware of our identity within the society that we live in. But who has the power to…

In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant,” the main character faces an internal struggle over right or wrong. Everyone, at some point or another, thinks “why am I doing this?” or “is this the correct decision?” Because we ask these questions of ourselves, this does not mean we necessarily have full control as interpreted by the French philosopher Louis Althusser. Ideological State Apparatuses such as law, religion, and politics are rife in "Shooting an Elephant" and George Orwell realizes that…

that shifts the problems produced by notions of consumerism and consumer capitalism into a discourse of choice, freedom and happiness. O 'Shaughnessy & Stadler argue that through “language, texts and representations” within genres, it is possible to expose “the values, beliefs and feelings” readers are offered through the use of genre that help them make sense of the world (2012, p. 180). A critical analysis will seek to explore the relationship between ideology and the discourse of consumerism…

The way in which a story is presented can either be what Kenneth Burke refers to as good art or bad art. Good art is that which conveys multiple meanings through the context; bad art is that which only holds one meaning that is simply understood the same way among all audience members. Hills Like White Elephants can be categorized as good art through the ways in which, depending on the reader, can lead to various interpretations and understandings. Through examination of the story and its…

4. Various Responses to Miliband-Poulantzas Debate 4.1. Ernesto Laclau: Methodological and Epistemological Problem Robin Blackburn (2014) described Ernesto Laclau as “the outstanding Argentinean political philosopher ... the author of landmark studies of Marxist theory and of populism as a political category and social movement. ... Used the work of Antonio Gramsci to reject what they saw as the reductionism and teleology of much Marxist theory... a ‘post-Marxist’ and an advocate of ‘radical…

When Julius Caesar was challenged by the Roman Senate to lay down his arms and return to Rome unarmed and alone to face a trial for multiple charges for crimes his political opponents thought appropriate, he had to make a choice, go to Rome as asked and most certainly be tried, convicted and exiled, maybe executed, or he could march on Rome at the head of his Army. This scenario is one which countless individuals over every century have faced, not the part about leading an Army necessarily, no,…