1. Repressive State Apparatus includes the government-controlled organizations such as the military, police and the courts, established to set order and control the public by violence or threats for violence. Althusser calls is “repressive” because these institutions, use force or threat of force as a way of repression, to make people follow the rules laws or social values. For example, if someone commits a crime, the police can arrest them, and the court can punish them. I can try and explain his choice of words by claiming that Althusser tried to emphasize the use of force in order to put people in place if they don’t follow the rules. As long as they do, there is no repression. We can argue that “repressive” may sound too aggressive but at is core it is true. We fear (or should fear) the result of our action if they are illegall.
  2. according Althusser, Ideological State Apparatuses are establishments and organizations  that help maintain the main ideology in the society and prevent change to the status quo. This includes school, places of worship, family and the media. They work by providing nonviolent and educational access to the mainstream ideology ideas and believes.
  3. Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are different from each other mainly by the way they aim to control the people. State Apparatuses believes in using active force and fear and Ideological Apparatuses uses influence and more behind the scenes, nonviolent ways to promote its ideas. Additionally, the goal of State Apparatuses is to control and keep things in order while ideological Apparatuses tries to convince people and normalize the mainstream ideology.
  4. My example is for ideological apparatuses and it is the music video by Taylor Swift for her song “You Have To Calm Down”. https://youtu.be/Dkk9gvTmCXY?si=JxSYWtpQhJRTqcZk. The song, that was released in 2019, and currently has 351 million views, includes a strong statement against the anti-gay culture in America under the Trump administration and aims to rightfully normalize the liberal agenda where everyone deserves equal rights. The title of the song “you have to calm down” together with other lyrics from the song such as “Why are you mad? When you could be GLAAD? (You could be GLAAD) Sunshine on the street at the parade, But you would rather be in the dark ages, Making that sign, must’ve taken all night” encourage people to drop hate and old times ideas and accept gay people as they are. The video includes many mainstream celebrities who are part of the LGBTQ+ along side LGBTQ+ activist and celebrities to show the public that is nothing wrong with being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

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