1. The Repressive state Apparatus are institutions put in place that acts in disciplinary ways to get people to act and believe in ways that they believe are in line where these actions are performed through forces or the threat of a force. Althusser calls it repressive because it forces upon someone and doesn’t give them the choice to go against the ideas being put against them. An example of this is the police and the law, where not following the status quo results in repression of freedom through jail time.
2. Ideological State Apparatus is similar to Repressive however it goes through maintain discipline in non forceful ways . An example of this is teachers in school that discipline students. Schools are one of the institutions responsible for controlling the behaviors and beliefs of a person at a young age when their most impressionable. Schools allow students to learn the status quo from their teachers and as a result, understand the world much easier under the supervision of a trusted official than if they were to just be let into the world unsupervised, with the chance of forming dangerous values.
3. The difference between Repressive and Ideological state apparatus is that that they are demonstrated. For instance, Repressive takes on a head on approach where people can visibly see the forces that regulate ideas. As mentioned earlier, policing and laws use their powers to force people into their values and punish them for deterring from them. Alternatively, Ideological isn’t as visible seen as is done in a sort of subconscious way. The example of teachers mentioned earlier helps prove this point. Teachers demonstrate to their students ways to act and to think. Although they don’t directly force them to, they influence their students to pick up on these values. The values are subconsciously put into the students brain and they become more in line with the status quo. This also happens in other institutions such as churches which speak on beliefs and pass them on to their followers without the our of force or conversive means.
4. https://youtu.be/VYOjWnS4cMY?si=jBgjiQ6BbS6JjDU- – This is America by Childish Gambino is a good example of ideology because of the idea that it presents through both its lyrics and music video. It demonstrates the division in America that causes turmoil within America where sides are fighting each other. It displays repressive apparatuses where people of different values use violence to get their way and demonstrates the errors of systems that use this violent forces. A heavy topic in the music is about the systematic racism that exist in America that is carried out by these repressive states of power. Although it is several years old, many of the issues in the music video still hold true and are deeply debated and challenged.

1. The Repressive State Apparatus includes institutions like the police, military, courts, and prisons that use force or authority to keep society organized and controlled. Althusser calls it “repressive” because these institutions enforce rules and norms through direct methods like punishment and physical force. The word “repressive” shows how these institutions help maintain control and prevent challenges to the current system. For example, during a protest, the police work to make sure things don’t get too chaotic. If necessary, they might use force to manage the crowd or arrest people breaking the law. This approach helps maintain social order by directly addressing any problems or disruptions

2. Ideological State Apparatuses are places like schools, media outlets, and religious institutions that help shape our beliefs and values without using force. They work by influencing how we think and feel about the world around us. Instead of using physical power, these institutions teach us what’s important and guide our understanding of society through things like education and media. For example, schools are a great example of this. They don’t just teach us subjects like math and science, they also help us learn about important social values. Schools often stress the importance of being punctual, working hard, and following rules, which are all values that fit into the larger framework of how society operates. So, these institutions play a key role in reinforcing the ideas and norms that support the way things are organized in our world.

3. The main difference between Repressive State Apparatuses and Ideological State Apparatuses is how they keep society under control. Repressive State Apparatuses use direct methods like force and authority to manage problems right away. For example, the police or military step in during a crisis and use their power to handle the situation. On the other hand, Ideological State Apparatuses work in a more subtle way. They influence how we think and feel about the world through things like schools, media, and religious organizations. Instead of using force, they shape our values and beliefs over time. For instance, schools not only teach subjects like math but also important social values such as working hard and following rules. So, while Repressive State Apparatuses deals with immediate problems and maintain order through direct actions, Ideological State Apparatuses focuses on shaping our long term beliefs and attitudes.

4. In many schools, there’s a strong emphasis on doing well on tests, earning good grades, and winning awards. Students are often told that their success is mainly about how hard they work and compete against others. The main idea is that personal effort and impressive achievements are the keys to succeeding in life. (Ideological State Apparatuses)

1. What is a Repressive State Apparatus?

A Repressive State Apparatus includes institutions that use force or threats to keep people in line and enforce laws. Althusser calls it “repressive” because it controls people through direct, physical means. For example, the police are a a repressive state apparatus because they have the authority to arrest people and use force if necessary to maintain public order and ensure laws are followed.

2. What are Ideological State Apparatuses?

Ideological State Apparatuses are institutions that shape our beliefs and values without using force. These include things like schools, media, and religious organizations. They influence how we see the world and what we think is important by promoting certain ideas and norms. For example, schools teach not just academic subjects but also social values and behaviors, helping to shape our understanding of how society works.

3. What is the difference between Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses?

The main difference between these is in how they exert control. Repressive State Apparatuses use direct force and authority to enforce laws and maintain order, like the police or the military. They manage behavior through actions that involve physical power. Ideological State Apparatuses, on the other hand, influence people’s thoughts and values in a more subtle way. They shape how we think about things like culture, politics, and social norms through education, media, and religion, without using physical force.

4. Example of Ideology

A public service announcement by the Florida department of health promoting the benefits of healthy eating. This PSA is an example of an Ideological State Apparatus at work. It influences people’s beliefs about health and encourages them to adopt certain behaviors, like eating nutritious foods. It does this through persuasion and providing information, rather than using force, to shape how people think about their health and lifestyle choices. The link is attached below.

Okay, let ‘s go to the questions, consider the following:

1. What is a Repressive State Apparatus? Why does Althusser call it “repressive”? Can we explain his choice of words here. Give an example.

2. Let’s do the same for the Ideological State Apparatuses. What are they, how do they seem to work?

3. Important: this question will appear on our exam: How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?

4. Post an example of ideology. This could be a piece of writing, an image, video, pdf document, visual art, or music, clip from a movie. Next to your example, specify if this is an example of repressive or ideological apparatuses at work. I’ll start us of off by giving an example.

NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.

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1. Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
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5. Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
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What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.

Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.