1.) For someone to understand the concept of “M-C-M,” they must first come to realize that it was created for the sole purpose of explaining why we continue to have capitalism in this country. There was a point in time where the United States did not have people who had a lot of money, society was a place where “peasants” and “artisans” would sell the product of their labor in exchange for money. But when people of wealth came into the picture, that way of living life changed drastically. “M-C-M” was a formula that was abbreviated, it served the purpose in understanding how capitalists or people of wealth sought to continue their gains. The first “M” in the formula stands for “money,” “C” stands for “commodity,” and the final “M” is for “money” again-almost like a transaction. Firstly, capitalists want to ensure that they can have a business or corporation-the fruit of their labor but without them actually working. Then, they must have employees that can produce their product so that they are able to sell. Then, they are to make income whilst retrieving more of the desired product for them to sell. For example, according to page 23, paragraph 2 states, “…for capitalists would never use their money for the purchase of a commodity that they could not resell for more than they had spent.” This quote from the text is a prime example of how a capitalist thinks. They want to continue purchasing a commodity or some form of product to be produced so it can keep generating profit for them. But they never want to resell something that they had invested in to ensure they gain more compared to what they bought it for. So, consumers will continue buying it from them for higher prices than what they actually bought it for. Also, the employers are part of the commodity because they are aiding in the capitalist gains and they aren’t being paid nearly enough for the amount of labor that they put in. All in all, capitalists remain on top whilst continuing to profit on both what they sell and their employers.

1.) In video 5.1 “Labor & Class Conflict,” it discusses two key concepts: means of production and labor. Although they each have their own respective definition, they reconcile with each other quite well because it refers to social class; specifically the working class. For starters, “means of production” are particular things that are necessary in order to produce a product(s). Usually the driving force behind this are human beings, regardless if they were to use something like machinery to speed up the process. On the other hand, “labor” is “the only thing that can increase the value for what you have,” according to Marx. In other words, it is the time that someone takes in order to produce a product. Basically, the more time that someone takes on creating a product-the more valuable it’ll be. The saying “time is money,” is correct because labor is “measured in time, hours, and minutes.” Usually products are “man-made” and since a person puts an immense amount of effort during the time that they are working to produce something, their efforts are “rewarded” in a way. The price tag that will follow the item will represent the amount of labor they’ve done.

-An example of “means of production”: In video 5.1: Labor & Class, he talks about how his Youtube video plays into this concept. Producing a video of his standard is no simple means because he shows various equipment that is used to ensure the production can be done. For example, a camera so he can have his face present in the video, a microphone to record his voice, a tripod for lighting, a backboard, editing software, and of course himself. Not only are these all factors in creating a video such as this one, but also considering it is the “means” that goes behind something to be created.

-An example of “labor”: In video 5.1: Labor & Class, he gives the example of a block of wood. A block of wood is nothing, it does not have any value as of yet because wood can be obtained anywhere and it is not made into anything. But when you add “labor” into the mix, that block of wood can obtain value because someone will put time and effort into making it valuable; like a chair. A chair requires an immense amount of time to make and is a product that will make money so it will be priced based on the amount of time it took and possibly the kind of wood that is used.

2.) Based on video 5.1: Labor & Class Conflict, “value” is considered to be how much something is worth. What makes something “valuable” is the time and effort that is put into creating the desired product.

3.) “Labor” and “value” are two concepts that were presented within the video in regards to the production of a product. To understand the relationship between the two, we must first come to define each of them respectively. Labor is considered to be time that someone takes in order to produce a product. On the other hand, value is how much a product is worth or will be sold for consumers to buy. Now, value is actually measured in a particular way that is connected to the amount of labor that is produced by someone. For example, according to the video it stated, “A product’s value is measured by how much labour it takes to produce under normal circumstances.” This quote from the video is an accurate definition of how these two concepts are connected. So, if a product were to be mass produced by machinery rather than a human, the machinery can produce the product in lesser time and provide more quantity. Whereas the human will take more time and provide less but with more effort compared to the machine. Thus, the value of the product will be different based on how it is produced. Not to mention, the skill that an individual has to gain in order to produce that product should be considered as well.

4.) From my understanding, there is a difference between the two concepts; “labor” and “labor power.” Labor power is supposedly the “ability to labor,” it increases the value of what you have and is apparently only found within people. Having the ability to work or labor power, requires that you are sustained by having the necessary food, clothing, and shelter so you can make it throughout each individual work day. So, considering that labor is something that human beings have always done in order to produce goods and provide services or simply-the physical act of working. Whilst labor power seems to be one’s capacity to work and how they are able to sell their efforts to the employer so they can support themselves through the pay that they obtain.

5.) “Surplus Value” is the distinction between the amount of money obtained through the sale of a product and the price it costed the owner of that destined product to manufacture such. It is an important concept in understanding our study of social classes because Marx made an important point in regards to capitalism. The goods and services that are provided from an individual for the company that they work for are in the best interests of the company or business that they work for. Despite the fact that the worker is paid, Marx mentioned capitalism; you are always being paid less than what your labor is actually worth. For example, according to the video it states, “That’s how capitalism works, you hire other people to increase the value of what you have and then you keep that extra value for yourself.” (Timestamp: 5:43- 5:50) This basically means that you continue to make the “rich” richer while you remain to be on the side of the working class spectrum or worst. People who own business or corporations that are worth significant value will want to ensure that they keep making money and that it grows, employees are that driving factor and will continue to have people regardless because there is always someone who needs a job to make money. An example that I can think of for surplus value is a person who works for a retail store. In a single day, they make a day’s work that consists of 8 hours and while the pay seems good to the person, it doesn’t actually represent the amount of labor that they did within that day.

1.) Reading 4.3 introduces the idea of “owners” and “employees” in an attempt to understand the concept of “social class.” Basically, it serves the purpose of knowing that they are two social classes that differ from each other because of how much income they make and the effort needed in order to obtain it. Owners are considered to be the wealthy while the employees are poor or struggling individuals trying to make ends meet. For example, according to paragraph 1 of page 29 it states, “The very rich families and individuals who compose the owning class live mostly off investments, which include stocks, bonds,
rents, mineral royalties, and other property income.” This quote from the text not only allows an understanding for the owning class to be comprised of the wealthy but how they are able to make their wealth is what aids in their success. Stocks, bonds, rents, etc… are all but a few ways in how someone can earn income without the hassle of working very hard. On the other hand, there are “employees” who make their money as well but from little income and hard work. For example, according to paragraph 1 of page 29 states, “Their employees live mostly off wages, salaries, and fees.” This quote from the text is an ideal summarization of what people in this class live off and why they are not as wealthy. These people practically live off of what they work, if they don’t work there is no pay. They aren’t like the owners who are able to have income come to them passively. Not to mention, they work for the owners and the owners do not pay them enough considering the amount of labor they do.

2.) Adam Smith’s quote on page 28 spoke about labor from a different standpoint. From my understanding, he is trying to say that considering the world we live in there is no such thing as labor being the same. So, considering the amount of hours it takes for an object to be produced is a lot. It would obviously be a lot but the product does not tell the consumer how much effort went into such a process. Although there are labors that require an immense amount of skill more than others, there is no real way in measuring the labor went into creating something. Also, the money that is paid to have the product does compensate for the amount of effort that was put into it.

3.) Reading 4.4 created the argument that “class is not an identity.” This meant that despite various people across the country saying that social class exists because we have the wealthy and poor, it is simply not the way we should be looking at it. “Workers” or those who are considered to be poor and work for low income actually have just as much power compared to the “capitalists.” They practically need each other, one cannot thrive without the other. Capitalists need workers for their cooperation in order to get the necessary labor done. Not to mention, any wrong moves that the capitalist makes can instantly ruin their business. With workers, they need to work in order to make that paycheck but they can either be a “good worker” and do as their told or express themselves and possibly aid their overseer so that business can continue running smoothly. One cannot operate without the other and so, people need each other in order to thrive in this society.

4.) When Reading 4.4 makes the argument that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency,” I believe that they are referring to the relationship of capitalists and workers needing each other. Their businesses cannot thrive without if they have no workers to produce labor. An example I can think of is, let’s say a popular gaming franchise is worth billions. They are known for creating various titles but there is one in particular that sparked public interests for years. The next installment is coming and it’s lead developer suddenly leaves with a couple of game designers and mechanics. Not only are the people who created the infamous installments from the past have left. It will create a uncertain future for the next one. Everyone has different visions for ideas and despite having a new group of workers, the new installment can make or break the company, it’s reputation, and cause a stir for both the workers and the company.

1.) A Repressive State Apparatus is what controls you through the threat of violence including police, courts, and prisons. Essentially, it is to ensure that citizens are controlled through the use of force and even violence through any of these means. He called it “repressive” because the police, courts, and prisons are all means of restricting one’s freedom. For example, despite this being a way of striking fear into many people, it is actually supposed to be a motivator for people to remain honest individuals in society. But people wanting to be normal citizens of society and are accepted to belong within a group is just as much of a “motivator” as law enforcement.

2.) Ideological State Apparatuses prevents change to the “status quo,” or in other words, is a much more softer approach in correcting an individual’s wrongdoings and ensuring that one understands “right from wrong.” An example of this would be schools, politics, and the mass media. For instance, in school we are all given a schedule to follow everyday, rules to respect the building and staff, and etc… If you disobey the rules in any fashion, you will be disciplined with something like detention or suspension. This form of punishment is much like law enforcement in a way.

3.) Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are different from each other because despite them being both used as a means of disciplining individuals of society, they have opposite methods. Repressive State Apparatuses controls citizens through the use of force and even violence. The driving force behind this method are to use law enforcement officials and means such as police officers and prison. On the other hand, there are Ideological State Apparatuses which uses a much more “softer” approach in ensuring people remain upstanding citizens in society or the “status quo.” It believes the use of schools, politics, and the mass media can aid in one’s discipline because it teaches you “right from wrong” in it’s own way but without the force and violence like Repressive.

4.) My example of an ideology would be in regards to a video game that wanted to voice an important message. During the year of 2020, the COVID-19 virus had ravaged the globe and the United States had found itself as one of the many countries that dealt with the burden quite early. Considering how rapidly people were getting infected and the virus was killing people throughout the various states, the government had ordered people to stay home in order to combat the crisis. Unfortunately, the government could not reach everyone in a way that stood out and encouraged their behavior. So, many popular companies and brands that people loved very much had decided to post advertisements and post on social media to reach out. A prime example of just that was when the popular Japanese video game developer named “Capcom,” decided to use it’s popular video game franchise known as “Street Fighter” to advocate for such. They used their main face of the popular fighting game, known as “Chun-Li.” Not only is she well known throughout the gaming community which is large but the attire that is used is to express strength. Strength is something a lot of people needed to be reminded of throughout the pandemic. To ensure that this message was well received, they had posted it on the game’s website and on social media platforms such as Twitter. At one point the government had even tried to fine people as a means of staying home but using a video game character like her will reach a broader range of people. This is a form of “disciplining” people because it promotes the government’s wants in a softer approach than a forceful way by fines.

Link: https://www.siliconera.com/capcom-encourages-people-to-stay-home-with-chun-li-and-ryu/

1.) “Ideology” is a word that may seem quite easy for many of us to say. But what about it’s meaning? This is where things may start to become rather complicated because it is typically used for a subject that stems for controversial debate, in other words politics. From my understanding, I believe that ideology in politics or political ideology is defined as a “multitude of ideas,” or characteristics and concepts that are thought of from society. Most of these “ideas” that are made is in connection to how the government handles various issues that are often spoken about. Now, considering that people have different viewpoints on how the government handles things, people often become divided. For example, there are two groups of people; “Liberals” and “Conservatives.” In short, liberals are individuals who believe that the government can aid in solving many problems. While the conservatives are the complete opposite, they want less of the government’s help and involvement. Let’s think of the topic of taxes, everyone who works legally must pay it. Liberals want a progressive tax system so that there will be higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations. They see this as a means of collecting enough money so that there is funding for various issues like the environment, poor/homeless people, and etc… On the other hand, the conservatives wants the government to lower it because they will then have more money to themselves. Being that taxes is one of the many topics for debate when it comes to the government, it is not the only thing that creates a division in perspective between these two groups.

For me, the concept of ideology on the whole was something that I was able to define on my own because I was able to comprehend the difference between liberals and conservatives. Despite the fact that they are groups that have different perspectives, they share the common goal of discussing the government. The government has the “highest power” in a way, they are able to invoke change over the entire country and oversee that it’s people are aware of the rules and regulations. Individuals of society obviously do not have as much power but can voice their ideas and concerns in hopes that changes that the government makes are one’s they agree with. Everyone has different perspectives, thus, most of the ideas that are generated from various issues differ greatly. Being able to think of their ideas made me realize what ideology in politics is all about.

2.) When you think of the two different groups; the liberals and conservatives, you come to understand that they have quite difference in opinion based on each other’s ideology. For starters, there are the liberals who are individuals that believe that the government can solve problems, an even bigger one is better. They also support government intervention when it comes to regulations and taxes because it will benefit minorities, women, and the poor. Not to mention, they want to see that the environment gets the necessary care that it needs and that spending be cut for national defenses. All in all, they are people that prefer to have social problems be taken care of. On the other hand, there are the conservatives that want the total opposite. They prefer the national government to be as small as possible because they feel it is a threat to “individual liberty.” They also believe in “free market” and think the government should continue funding the national defense but have lower spending because it will aid in having less taxes. Considering that we know a bit about each side’s perspective, I think the biggest difference between the two is that they don’t agree on how much the government should be involved in people’s personal lives. For instance, according to the video “Political Ideology: Crash Course Government and Politics #35,” it states (timestamp: 2:35-2:40), “The social sphere is where we differ significantly from our libertarian friends who don’t see any role for government in people’s personal lives. This means that libertarians often support things like marijuana legalization that more traditional conservatives do not support.” This quote from the video is a prime example as to how their perspectives differ greatly when it comes to the government’s involvement in people’s live. Conservatives aim to want their personal liberty, by having the government more involved or a bigger one, it restricts people from being their own man. They see it as a threat to their freedom and less of a protector. Individual liberty is the biggest difference between both sides and following this would be taxes.

3.) When Althusser created his definition of ideology, I believe what he was trying say is that we create beliefs that we accept and stand by without consciously knowing that you believe. The reality that we are in allows us to reinforce those beliefs so we are in between the lines of having what is in our minds versus what is in reality so that we make good agents of society. For example, the way you dress makes you think that you can be defined a certain way in reality. In the video “Althusser on Capitalist Ideology and State Apparatuses,” (Timestamp: 6:50-6:55) states, “Sure, you can define yourself as a Soc or a Greaser by wearing different clothes and maybe get some community out of it but again, nothing much will change.” This quote from the text is a prime example of how what we think or our “ideology” corresponds to the reality that we live in. By wearing a different set of clothes, you think that you will be able to change your identity in a way but you are still the same person; just living in a fake reality. Althusser’s perspective of ideology was very different but had a point!

1.) I believe that Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order” because they wanted to seem like they were in favor of aiding civil rights activists. During the 1950’s to 1960’s, many individuals of color embarked on a long journey in order to find a way for them to have equal opportunities compared to those whom were White. While this was no easy means for these activists, it became increasingly harder when many people were against their movement; Whites. In order to seem like the Southern politicians who were racist to not look as racist, they began to frame their defense through “Law and Order.” For example, according to the text it states, “The rhetoric of “law and order” was first mobilized in the late 1950s as Southern governors and law enforcement officials attempted to generate and mobilize white opposition to the Civil Rights Movement.” This quote from the text is a prime example of how “Law and Order” played a significant means of hiding the racist politicians. Many White’s were in opposition of civil rights activists because they did not want Blacks to have equality in various ways. By using these words, they were able to show that they were against White’s acting this way despite them feeling the same way in regards to the matter.

2.) The Southern Strategy was a method used by the Republican Party in order to increase political support amongst White voters by showing that they were for racism against African Americans. With this in mind, I believe that this method is still used in American politics because the United States still has racism. For instance, the South has always been considered to be the most racist part of the country and still is regardless of the era we are in. There are still even racist politicians and especially in the Republican Party. By supporting racist individual mindsets, it gives people the want to support a candidate who will look to benefit only a certain type of people. Let’s say Donald Trump for an example, he was a big icon for many Southern racists. Many racist individuals don’t appreciate the fact that Spanish people jump the boarders and he promised in his campaign that he would build a great wall to prevent illegal immigrants, he was known to not like certain backgrounds. Not only was this fuel for racism but he was a major icon to support such endeavors.

1.) Throughout the text, Michelle Alexander continuously seemed to talk about an issue that plagued The United States quite harshly at a certain point, this was the battle with crack cocaine or illegal drugs on the whole. Considering her viewpoint on the matter, she claimed that this issue with crack cocaine was primarily affecting populations with people of color. Although the “War on Drugs” was created in an effort to combat the growing use of the drug, it was also an attempt to lessen the amount of people being incarcerated because of drug-related charges. Thus, mass incarceration became an issue as well within the country. Michelle Alexander claims that the main reason for many people going to jail in the U.S. is deeply wrong, she says this because the vast majority of people who are incarcerated are of color. For example, according to the passage it states “The racial dimension of mass incarceration is its most striking feature. No other country in the world imprisons so many of its racial or ethnic minorities. The United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid.” This quote from the text is not only a prime example as to why The United States has a mass incarceration issue but considering that it is the only country that has the most imprisonments for people of racial or ethnic minorities compared to whites. Not to mention, the issue revolving drugs is what aids in the problem of certain people of different backgrounds to be highlighted more than others. Someone would be more likely to think of a Black individual distributing drugs than a White one.

2.) Considering racial disparities in the rates of incarceration, it “cannot be explained by rates of drug crimes” because despite the fact that mass incarceration in the United States is primarily composed of people of racial or ethnic backgrounds, it is simply not true. For example, according to the text it states, “These stark racial disparities cannot be explained by rates of drug crime. Studies show that people of all colors use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates.” This quote from the text not only shares that it is not only one type of people that use and sell illegal drugs but all compare to be similar statistically speaking. So, even though one set of people go to jail more than others and it would seem like they commit more drug crimes; it does not depict the full picture.

3.) When you think of the phrase “the American penal system has emerged as a system of social control unparalleled in world history,” I believe that it is trying to talk about the country’s legal system. The United State’s legal system is used to enforce the law and ensure that it’s citizen’s understand “right” from “wrong,” while ensuring their safety. Citizens make up a society and the law is considered to be a system, so it is there to ensure law and order amongst them. Being that it is “unparalleled in world history,” I would just say that this means it is quite advanced and heavily placed in this country compared to others.