This document provides an overview of the key topics and objectives to be covered regarding "We Media & Democracy". It will discuss the emergence of "We Media" or user-generated content, how contemporary media is both more and less democratic than in the past, and explore Marxist and cultural theories related to media such as cultural hegemony and the works of Gramsci and Chomsky. It outlines aims to understand the Marxist view of mass media through concepts like conflict theory and hegemony. Key terms are defined, such as hegemony, Marxism, capitalism, and conflict theory. Students are then given tasks to further explore these concepts.
3. Topic Objectives
For this topic you need to learn about the following, in relation to at least two
areas of the media:
• What are ‘We Media’?
• Where / how has ‘We Media’ emerged?
• In what way are the contemporary media more democratic than
before?
• In what ways are the contemporary media less democratic than
before?
4. Today’s Aims
• To understand the Marxist view of the Mass
Media e.g. Conflict/Hegemonic theory
5. Cultural Theorists and Theories
• Marxist ideology
• Gramsci, cultural hegemony
• Chomsky, media control
• Fourth Estate of democracy
6. Cultural Hegemony
• Denotes the predominance of one class over
another
• This represents not only political and
economic control, but also the ability of the
dominant class to project its own way of
seeing the world so that those who are
subordinated by it accept it as 'common
sense' and 'natural'.
7. Karl Marx
• 1818-1883
• Philosopher, political
economist, theorist, revolutionary, exile
• Published Capital (1867), and The Communist
Manifesto (1984)
21. Conflict Theory
• Conflict theorists argue that some people benefit from the
mass media more than others.
• In particular, the mass media favour the interests of
dominant classes and political groups in two ways:
a) Ownership of the mass media is highly concentrated in
the hands of a small number of people and is highly
profitable for them. Thus, the mass media are a source of
economic inequality.
b) The mass media broadcast beliefs, values, and ideas that
create widespread acceptance of the basic structure of
society, including its injustices and inequalities. Also known
as hegemonic theory
23. • Why might the news
media be considered to
be an important part of a
democratic society?
• What evidence is there
to suggest that the news
media are not as
democratic as we think?
25. Focus Task
• Exploring conflict/hegemonic theory in more
depth
• In pairs, carry out research and create a mind
map of ideas.
26. • Create a fact page about Noam Chomsky’s
theories on the media and democracy
• Use bullet points and ensure that your info is
clear for others