Ideology
In this particular section I will be critically assessing ideology within my three research films and illustrating how I intend to construct the ideological messages and valies within my short film.
To enable this aim, I will define and explain the Frankfurt Schools Three key ideas in ideological analysis; ideology through Karl Marx's theories, hegemony from Antonio Gramsci's proposals and interpellation using the views by Louis Althusser. I will illustrate the three terms, ideology, hegemony and interpellation in three different texts. Along with this, I will include a portrayal of how the processes of the Frankfurt School and the ideological content have influenced my piece.
To enable this aim, I will define and explain the Frankfurt Schools Three key ideas in ideological analysis; ideology through Karl Marx's theories, hegemony from Antonio Gramsci's proposals and interpellation using the views by Louis Althusser. I will illustrate the three terms, ideology, hegemony and interpellation in three different texts. Along with this, I will include a portrayal of how the processes of the Frankfurt School and the ideological content have influenced my piece.
Ideology is a study of nature and origins of ideas. It could be considered as a guideline of social acceptance for an individual. It assists in the understanding of social movement, the modern social class structure.
Marxism presumes that 'Ideology' defines as a 'set of belief systems that are held by a particular class or group of people'. He believes that it adverses the understood scientific truth or reason. Marx believed ideology advocates the action of those in power by misrepresenting reality. This theory derived from Karl Marx was established in 1848. Marxism originated during the mid 19th century in oppositional response to the three tendencies in the worker's movement; Doctrinaire Socialism, Utopian and Anarchism. There were three influences into Marxism, French socialism, German idealist philosophy and the British political economy. At that time, there were more or less the same views being transmitted to the public by the number of groups who were advocating socialism. As a result of this, Karl Marx and Frederick Engles were able to develop a revolutionary movement based around the working class. This particular theory is important as it changed the views of the working class and presented an alternative to the dominant messages that were being projected onto them.
Marxism can be seen in practise in the film 'Ivan's Childhood' by Andrei Tarkovsky. With the film being set during World War II, it clearly represents the working class who fought on the Eastern front during the war. The subject of 'war' is an example of Marxism with the dominant ideologies, the Government, stating who should fight and where. The soliders are following the messages set for them by the controlling authority, whether they as individuals agree or not.
This ideology can be identified within the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' by Michel Gondry. The male and female protagonists are both working class and accumulate power during the narrative in an attempt to overcome the memory erasing process which they both encounter.
Marxism presumes that 'Ideology' defines as a 'set of belief systems that are held by a particular class or group of people'. He believes that it adverses the understood scientific truth or reason. Marx believed ideology advocates the action of those in power by misrepresenting reality. This theory derived from Karl Marx was established in 1848. Marxism originated during the mid 19th century in oppositional response to the three tendencies in the worker's movement; Doctrinaire Socialism, Utopian and Anarchism. There were three influences into Marxism, French socialism, German idealist philosophy and the British political economy. At that time, there were more or less the same views being transmitted to the public by the number of groups who were advocating socialism. As a result of this, Karl Marx and Frederick Engles were able to develop a revolutionary movement based around the working class. This particular theory is important as it changed the views of the working class and presented an alternative to the dominant messages that were being projected onto them.
Marxism can be seen in practise in the film 'Ivan's Childhood' by Andrei Tarkovsky. With the film being set during World War II, it clearly represents the working class who fought on the Eastern front during the war. The subject of 'war' is an example of Marxism with the dominant ideologies, the Government, stating who should fight and where. The soliders are following the messages set for them by the controlling authority, whether they as individuals agree or not.
This ideology can be identified within the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' by Michel Gondry. The male and female protagonists are both working class and accumulate power during the narrative in an attempt to overcome the memory erasing process which they both encounter.
Hegemony
Hegemony is a structured domination of power typically to build a society with a class arrangement.
Antonio Gramsci could be considered as one of the most Marxist thinkers of the 20th Century. He was a founding member and only leader of the Communist Party of Italy. Gramsci is majorly known for his cultural hegemony ideas to sustain a capitalist society. He defined hegemony as the process in which those in control, maintain their authority.
Hegemony originated during the Ancient Greek Period. Historically, it was created so that one country would be able to have control over others. However, it is commonly known now as a power structure within a society. The importance of hegemony remains to be that there is an order to the way civilizations are 'run'.
In relation to the film, 'Ivan's Childhood' the presence of hegemony plays a vital role in the way the characters respond to the situation they are faced with. Without hegemony the ideologies that are in place within that society at that time would not have been pursued.
Then in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', the hegemonic structure is in the form of a scientific company who have the resources and equipment to erase part of someone's memory. This type of control over lives gives the company the dominant ideology in the film.
Antonio Gramsci could be considered as one of the most Marxist thinkers of the 20th Century. He was a founding member and only leader of the Communist Party of Italy. Gramsci is majorly known for his cultural hegemony ideas to sustain a capitalist society. He defined hegemony as the process in which those in control, maintain their authority.
Hegemony originated during the Ancient Greek Period. Historically, it was created so that one country would be able to have control over others. However, it is commonly known now as a power structure within a society. The importance of hegemony remains to be that there is an order to the way civilizations are 'run'.
In relation to the film, 'Ivan's Childhood' the presence of hegemony plays a vital role in the way the characters respond to the situation they are faced with. Without hegemony the ideologies that are in place within that society at that time would not have been pursued.
Then in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', the hegemonic structure is in the form of a scientific company who have the resources and equipment to erase part of someone's memory. This type of control over lives gives the company the dominant ideology in the film.
Interpellation
The process by which ideology, embodied in major social and political institutions, constitutes the nature of individual and discourses of 'hailing' them in social situations.
I.S.A - Ideological State Apparatus. Ideas fed into society through the dominate authority, through mediums such as school, news etc.
R.S.A - Repressive State Apparatus. Those who enforce the ideas that one is expected to abide by within society.
The French Marxist philosopher, Louis Althousser defines 'interpellation' as the process by which ideology simply addresses the individual. Thus dependent on the individual understanding hierarchy within society. As long as the differentiation between statuses is clear, interpellation will take effect. This essentially refers to the understanding of one's opposite, such as north pole to south pole. Interpellation was founded in 1971, it draws on some concepts from Jacques Lacan's 'Mirror Stage'. The notion of interpellation is regarded so frequently because how necessary is is perceived in society. Without it, there would be no clear dominant authority resulting from the lack of distinction in hegemony.
Having an absence of interpellation in, for example, the film 'Ivan's Childhood', would form a confusing message for the audience as they would not be able to interpret who, or what is dominant. Especially in a film involving war, which depends so much on hierarchy, it would seemingly be impossible for the audience to differentiate between characters' status.
Interpellation in the film, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' is created from the moral questionings of erasing part of someone's memory. The use of ideological state apparatus and repressive state apparatus are present, but subtly illustrated.
I.S.A - Ideological State Apparatus. Ideas fed into society through the dominate authority, through mediums such as school, news etc.
R.S.A - Repressive State Apparatus. Those who enforce the ideas that one is expected to abide by within society.
The French Marxist philosopher, Louis Althousser defines 'interpellation' as the process by which ideology simply addresses the individual. Thus dependent on the individual understanding hierarchy within society. As long as the differentiation between statuses is clear, interpellation will take effect. This essentially refers to the understanding of one's opposite, such as north pole to south pole. Interpellation was founded in 1971, it draws on some concepts from Jacques Lacan's 'Mirror Stage'. The notion of interpellation is regarded so frequently because how necessary is is perceived in society. Without it, there would be no clear dominant authority resulting from the lack of distinction in hegemony.
Having an absence of interpellation in, for example, the film 'Ivan's Childhood', would form a confusing message for the audience as they would not be able to interpret who, or what is dominant. Especially in a film involving war, which depends so much on hierarchy, it would seemingly be impossible for the audience to differentiate between characters' status.
Interpellation in the film, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' is created from the moral questionings of erasing part of someone's memory. The use of ideological state apparatus and repressive state apparatus are present, but subtly illustrated.
'Ivan's Childhood'
October 2012
The film, 'Ivan's Childhood' by Andrei Tarkovsky has many different ideologies. Although Tarkovsky's films do not intend on having a dominant ideology, in this particular film, it could be argued that it is how children react and deal with war situation. The preferred ideology may be that childhood does not, or cannot exist in a war environment, the oppositional meaning, similar to the dominant meaning, is implicit in Tarkovsky's work. However, it could express how war is a normality for those who grow up with it surrounding them. Ergo, the negotiated ideology could result in the film portraying the effect war has on society and families, from a child's perspective.
Since the film, 'Ivan's Childhood' is conveyed through memories and reflections, it presents ideas that are relatable even if one has not experienced the same environment. The representation being of a child makes it easy to empathysise with as everyone has to be a child, and with the story being told along with flashbacks the mass audience are able to comprehend what is being illustrated to them. The flashbacks are stimulated from a related sense, such as when Ivan is asleep and water is falling on his hand, which is what occurs in reality and is why the audience are able to connect with it.
Hegemony is a key concept within the film. It formally constructs the status of the characters with each other and in society. The use of the hegemonic structure is even greater because the film is set and is about World War II, a topic which entirely relies upon difference in status among people. There is an immediate understanding (from the audience's point of view) that there is a clear power structure from the way the characters dress and the context of the film.
Interpellation plays a large role within the film too. The ideologies that Ivan expresses to the audience are on accountant of the fact that these are all he has been taught due to his situation. The war itself is a mass scale representative state apparatus, with clashing ideologies being enforced at one given time.
Since the film, 'Ivan's Childhood' is conveyed through memories and reflections, it presents ideas that are relatable even if one has not experienced the same environment. The representation being of a child makes it easy to empathysise with as everyone has to be a child, and with the story being told along with flashbacks the mass audience are able to comprehend what is being illustrated to them. The flashbacks are stimulated from a related sense, such as when Ivan is asleep and water is falling on his hand, which is what occurs in reality and is why the audience are able to connect with it.
Hegemony is a key concept within the film. It formally constructs the status of the characters with each other and in society. The use of the hegemonic structure is even greater because the film is set and is about World War II, a topic which entirely relies upon difference in status among people. There is an immediate understanding (from the audience's point of view) that there is a clear power structure from the way the characters dress and the context of the film.
Interpellation plays a large role within the film too. The ideologies that Ivan expresses to the audience are on accountant of the fact that these are all he has been taught due to his situation. The war itself is a mass scale representative state apparatus, with clashing ideologies being enforced at one given time.
From 39:38 to 41:50 Tarkovsky displays a clear sense of hegemony. This is illustrated through the use of the army - representing how it was promenant in society. More so then anything, in this section of the film, hegemony is demonstrated through the mise-en-scene. Commencing with character movement, the extract begins clearly with the higher authority walking in front of the character who is of lower status. This is then supported by their costume; the obvious dominate character is wearing a Captain's uniform, with no armour or helmet, suggesting he is not prepared to fight, possibly because he is too important. On the other hand, the other character is dressed as a solider, wearing a helmet and protective gear, also carrying a weapon. Following this, when the extract cuts to outside the trench the lower status soliders are located at the bottom of a hill while the higher status characters are at the top.
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'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
November 2012
In Michel Gondry's 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' the ideologies expressed are subtle and can be read in different ways. The dominant ideology would be seen as the message that dictates about the inevitability of life. The preferred meaning could possibly be that scientific plans are not the answer to every problem one descries. The oppositional meaning maybe perceived as the protagonists being in a dysfunctional relationship that was condemned from when it commenced. Thus, the negotiated meaning could perhaps be an indication that one should not temper with unnecessary procedures to 'fix' something in one's life.
Interpellation is outlined from the beginning of the film. Gondry presents binary oppositions through the different relationships, the one between Joel and Clementine that causes a break-up and an impulsive action to remove the memory of one another from their brains. Then the one between Joel's friends, Carrie and Rob, who's relationship has obvious problems but they strive to remain together, even if that does sacrifice their own happiness. It is then illustrated again with the difference in personality between Joel and Clementine and their different approaches to certain situations. The utilisation of the theme love, provides a foundation for the film that everyone can relate to when watching the film. It is a topic everyone comes across and therefore can identify with the characters.
There is a breakdown in the hegemonic structure that is put forward. However, it is not clear on how long that rebellion remains. It occurs during the memory erasing process, the character Joel persists to resist the action that is taking place. From this point onwards, the scientific solution to forgetting someone appears to contain problems. The privacy that was incorporated with the procedure begins to fail and the character Mary, who comes to a realisation that what the company does and the moral values are wrong, cements its decay.
Interpellation is outlined from the beginning of the film. Gondry presents binary oppositions through the different relationships, the one between Joel and Clementine that causes a break-up and an impulsive action to remove the memory of one another from their brains. Then the one between Joel's friends, Carrie and Rob, who's relationship has obvious problems but they strive to remain together, even if that does sacrifice their own happiness. It is then illustrated again with the difference in personality between Joel and Clementine and their different approaches to certain situations. The utilisation of the theme love, provides a foundation for the film that everyone can relate to when watching the film. It is a topic everyone comes across and therefore can identify with the characters.
There is a breakdown in the hegemonic structure that is put forward. However, it is not clear on how long that rebellion remains. It occurs during the memory erasing process, the character Joel persists to resist the action that is taking place. From this point onwards, the scientific solution to forgetting someone appears to contain problems. The privacy that was incorporated with the procedure begins to fail and the character Mary, who comes to a realisation that what the company does and the moral values are wrong, cements its decay.
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In this particular section of the film, the protagonists, Clementine and Joel begin to rebel against what is happening to them. The audience are given an insight into how they are trying to get out of the situation. The essence of hegemony being broken down is when the characters begin to control the narrative, this is illustrated through the mise-en-scene. By their command, the location and subsequently, costume changes. Gondry uses the medium of the film to convey the disintegration of the hegemonic structure. Giving the characters the power to alter what the audience sees simply represents them going against society's new scientific way of dealing with unwanted emotions.
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'Memory'
January 2013
The dominant ideology presented in the shot film 'Memory' by Andrei Tarkovsky is that history cannot be erased and will remain forever. The preferred ideology could be seen to be that the film is simply presenting a fictional inhabitable place that was destroyed some time before. Therefore the negotiated meaning could be perceived as a memory of someone who has experienced this place and the chaos that has happened within it.
Much like Tarkovsky's other film, 'Ivan's Childhood', there is an absence of interpellation. Within the short film, 'Memory' there is no indication of a higher authority or any sort of power enforcement. However, there is seemingly evidence that this has already occurred and the film is simply a representation of the result.
Through the mise-en-scene of the short film, there seems to be a break down of the hegemonic structure. It seems as though there has been a collision between two forces, resulting in this destruction and dead space that is known as 'The Zone'.
Much like Tarkovsky's other film, 'Ivan's Childhood', there is an absence of interpellation. Within the short film, 'Memory' there is no indication of a higher authority or any sort of power enforcement. However, there is seemingly evidence that this has already occurred and the film is simply a representation of the result.
Through the mise-en-scene of the short film, there seems to be a break down of the hegemonic structure. It seems as though there has been a collision between two forces, resulting in this destruction and dead space that is known as 'The Zone'.
The way Tarkovsky has chosen to edit his short film maintains a sense of a never ending. Along with the mise-en-scene, it physicalises the destruction and the idea that there is no longer a hegemonic structure. The colour alterations of the shots give the impression of distortion and reiterate the essence that this is an unknown and unusual environment.
My Film, 'Minnie'
For my own five-minute film, I want the dominant ideology to be how crucial memories are and how prominent other people can be in one's life. I think interpellation may be broken, in terms of the character understanding where she is - as I intend on her feeling as though she is stuck somewhere and can no longer understand the judgement of things around her.