- What is a Repressive State Apparatus? Why does Althusser call it “repressive”? Can we explain his choice of words here? Give an example.
- A. Repressive State Apparatus is when the state uses fear to control people. An example of this can be the state using law enforcement to patrol the streets, a lack of opportunity for someone who disagrees with the state, or isolating someone from their community.
- Let’s do the same for the Ideological State Apparatuses. What are they, and how do they seem to work?
- Ideological State Apparatuses are when the state uses education to create an obedient worker, someone who may not question authority and completes what they are assigned without question.
- How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?
- Repressive uses fear and physical violence to control people, while Ideological uses things like education and entertainment to control people.
- 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.
- A.
This WWII ration poster is an example of ideological apparatues. It shows that through your rationing for the wartime effort, soldiers will have enough to live on overseas. The government is showing you it is necessary to ration for the war effort.
