Melissa Robinson – Ideology

1.Ideology is a set of ideas and beliefs that affect how people think about and interpret the world. It helps shape opinions on various topics like politics, society, and personal values. One example is two people debating the use of social media. One person might believe social media is a good thing that  helps us connect with others and stay updated, while the other might think it creates distractions, spreads misinformation, and harms mental health. Their differing views reflect their ideologies about technology and communication: one sees social media as a positive force, while the other views it as a negative influence. Their beliefs shape how they use or avoid social media and how they think others should interact with it.

2. There is a big difference between conservative and liberal ideology in US politics. Liberal ideology believes that the government can solve all their problems and on the other hand conservative don’t want anything to do with the government in their business. For example in the first he said “American liberals believe that the government can help solve problems and a bigger government like a glorious soaring eagle can solve bigger problems and more.” More like higher taxes, minorities, women and the poor and equality. Also from the first video he said “ American conservatives believe that a large government poses a threat to individual liberty, and we prefer our national government to be as small as possible.” So this is saying that American Liberals strongly team up with the government and want all support from them. Well, American conservative don’t really want anything to do with the government and if they do need to team up they rather have a small party with them and not a larger one like the American liberals .

3. I understand that ideology has a slightly different meaning now. Ideology has to do with reinforced and approved behaviors. One example that Althusser said in the video was “In the 20th century the concept of ideology changes and tones have a slightly different meaning. Ideology still means accepting beliefs that you believe without consciously knowing you believe them but here they are reinforced through expected and approved behaviors to make you a good subject and a future cog in a capitalist economy- so this would be more than capitalist ideology. Louis Althusser deFined two tapes of apparatus that controlled behavior. The first is called the repressive apparatus which controls you through the threat of violence including police, courts and prisons.But fear is not the primary motivator in most of our lives. As it turns out, being normal, being accepted, and belonging to a group are just as strong motivators. Here is where ideological apparatuses do most of the work so that the poles and courts only need to step in when they Fail to put people in their place. Ideological state apparatuses prevent change to the status quo and include schools, politics, and the mass media.” Althusser is saying now we have reinforced the system with police, courts and prisons. Our behaviors can lead us in coming across the police or get taken to court and lastly end up in prison. Ideology still has the same meaning just with prop up.

Melissa Robinson

1. Repressive State Apparatus is when punishment starts to play a role and by that is when you break a rule or the law you go to prison.  I quote “ You have two choices: you can accept authority and discipline or if you don’t accept it when the repressive apparatus begins to take away your corporeal freedom, detention or prison. Of course this is not a real choice but this lesson is preparing for the rest of your life in which you’ll continue to have no real choice .” This is saying that if you don’t accept authority that your freedom would be taken away , end up in prison and even detention.

2. Ideological State Apparatus are the law/ rule makers that make the rules that we follow growing up and the ones we follow on a daily basis I would say. I quote “ Ideological apparatuses do most of the work so that the police and courts only need to step in when they fail to put people in their place. Ideological state Apparatuses prevent change to the status quo and include schools,politics and the mass media.” 

3. Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are different from each other and maybe ways. Repressive plays a part when it comes down to people disobeying the law. Ideological are the ones that follow the rules . Here is an example of Ideological,” Ideological state apparatus because they are mandatory,”No other ideological state apparatus has the obligatory audience of the totality of children in the capitalist social formation, eight hours a day for five or six days.-Althusser” An example of Repressive apparatus begins to take away your corporeal freedom, detention or prison. Of course this is not a real choice but this lesson is preparing you for the rest of your life in which you’ll continue to have no real choice.”

4.Ideological State Apparatuses shape our beliefs and values without using force. These include things like schools and media.

“In school you are taught to follow a strictly regimented schedule seven or eight hours of lessons broken up by an hour of leisure: always the same everyday. You are taught to submit to authority, to obey, not to speak out of turn, to share your pencils, to clean up after yourself and to raise your hand if you wish to speak.”