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

Althusser explains that the repressive state apparatus is an ideological concept that is used as a form of power controlled by violence. The Repressive State Apparatus is represented through prisons, courts, the police, the army, and other organizations that manipulate citizens with threats of brutality and aggression. This is why Althusser called it the repressive state apparatus, because these groups are designed to repress the population. These institutions have authoritative power over the citizens of their state and use their power to force the people to fall in line. The repressive state apparatus does not exist just for the purpose of enforcing; however, it is used to teach the citizens the ideology of their respective states and countries and make sure they follow the rules or suffer dire consequences.  When a group of individuals or single individuals attempt to challenge the ideology of their state, the repressive state apparatus steps in to prevent their rebellion and these reactions are always violent. An example of this would be if you don’t follow the rules in school authorities step in and threaten you with detention, a trip to the principal’s office, a phone call to your parents, suspension, and even sometimes expulsion. Violence doesn’t always mean getting harmed physically but it can mean being stripped of your freedoms. 

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

The Ideological State Apparatuses prevent change to present circumstances and are comprised of schools, politics, religious institutions, cultural groups, and the mass media. According to Althusser, the ideological state apparatus uses methods other than violence to accomplish the same things as the Repressive State Apparatus. Fear is not the key motivator in our lives. However, being considered normal, accepted, and being welcomed into a group are motivators that are just as powerful as violence. The ideological state apparatus does all the work so the police and the courts don’t have to intervene. The purpose of the ideological state apparatus is that you don’t need to think about the inequality that you may be experiencing. You forget about the injustices around you and don’t do anything to change or rebel against them. The only options you have are the illusion of choice between the status quo and the status quo. For example, this is like choosing between two political candidates who are seemingly different, but both have the same objective, to keep things as they are. According to Althusser, schools are the most essential ideological state apparatus. Initially it was the Church’s job to shape the minds of children, but today it’s the schools who teach children how to behave morally and ethically. They are taught how to behave, how to speak only when called on by their teacher, how to share, think, and act towards their peers, and not to go against the wishes of your authority figures.  There is no true freedom in an ideological state apparatus.  

3. How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two? 

There are many differences between the repressive state apparatus and the ideological state apparatuses. Although they both control citizens by using fear, the repressive state apparatuses, like the military or the police, compel its people into following the State’s ideology with the looming threat of violence. An ideological state apparatus like a church will generate fear amongst its members through the threats of being ostracized within the community. That fear of losing the sense of belonging is just as strong as the threat of violence.  Places such as schools, the church, family life, and work, are institutions whose main function is to program people into accepting the State’s ideology. Different from the repressive state apparatus, the ideological state apparatuses use ideology and also operate while using repression. Therefore, people become compliant not through violence, but by the avoidance of contempt from their peers as well as embarrassment.  

More differences between the two apparatuses include the fact that there is only one repressive state apparatus, violence. However, there are several ideological state apparatuses which extend throughout many aspects of culture. This is due to ideological apparatuses focusing more on the culture of their citizens, such as schools training their students how to think and churches telling their members what to believe in. To put it simply, the repressive state apparatus belongs to the people, or the state itself, whereas the ideological state apparatuses belong to private institutions such as schools, churches, and the family unit.  

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. 

I chose an image that depicts the liberal ideology of being pro-choice. The overturing of Roe V. Wade has not only profoundly affected me as a woman, but this decision has reversed a practice that has been essential for the health of women for nearly 50 years. This ruling by the Supreme Court has taken away the rights of women, reduced reproductive care, and dramatically impacted communities of color. The ideology of liberalism is centered around equality for all human beings. They strive to enhance public services, want a cleaner and healthier environment, defend the right to a higher minimum wage, the protection of laborers and their unions, social security, aiding the poor, the civil and human rights of an individual, and supports the government having a strong presence in the lives of citizens in order to protect people from harm.  

Liberals are not anti-military but believe that the country should not pour so much money into them. The defense budget should be cut so they could put the money towards programs they consider more important. Liberals are fundamentality anti-gun, support a women’s right to choose, are pro-immigration, and equality for all genders, races, and sexual orientations. Liberalism and other political affiliations are considered an ideological state apparatus because by definition they prevent you from changing the present circumstances. They maintain the status quo by presenting you with two options that make you feel like you have a voice in society. However, the two political choices both have the same agenda and will not implement the changes the voters are looking for. 

1. A Repressive State Apparatus is a state in which you get people to act against their interest. There are two parts to it, one of them is fear and the other is ideology. In order to do this one must use the control of violence by the usage of police, courts and prisons systems. But fear is not the part of this if you are a normal person that belongs to a group this also plays a factor into this as well. By the usage of the word violence he doesn’t mean in a physical way but rather in a mental way. By placing fear on someone and letting them know that their actions could possibly cause them to go to jail they may choose to not go down the wrong path. 
2. An ideological state apparatus prevents change to the status quo which includes schools, politics and the mass media. An example of this is that in politics we see a status quo that gives you the choice so that you feel that you are contributing to the society and how things work. But today you have a choice between two different parties which you have to view as are you picking between the status quo or status quo. Regardless of the choice that you make it will not change anything. So an example of this would be elections regardless of who you may vote for the majority of the time we never see change happen. 

3. The difference between these two states is that one is pushed by fear while the other is pushed by a group. To cause fear in one person by telling them that if they commit a crime that they will have to see a judge and possibly go to jail may scare them. By using such “violence” one can see that the actions will have a cause and effect. Whereas with ideological state apparatus we see this push in certain fields. We are taught in school that you need to obey authority and follow all of the rules. And when you don’t follow the rules there will be consequences to come from this. 
4. 

This is an example of Ideological state apparatus 

Questions 1, 2, and 3:

Althusser believed that, in a modern capitalist society, two apparatuses worked hand-in-hand to control behavior. Working off of Marx’s definition of ideology, which described the ways that the ruling class prevented changes to the status quo in Feudal socities (namely through the Divine Right of Kings), he defined these new forms of control as the Repressive and the Ideological apparatuses. The Repressive uses fear and violence (police, incarceration) to keep people in their place and prevent revolution. However, the Repressive only exists as backup to the Ideological. The Ideological, called ideological because it is driven by the implantation of ideologies, ingrains the need for societal acceptance, as well as how to function as a capitalist subject, in order to prevent revolution and keep the status quo. It does this primarily through the public school system. Because school is mandatory, it is the most efficient way to train people from a very young age to function in a capitalist society. It pushes obedience over everything, with the threat of violence (detention) if someone steps out of line. This primes an organized and submissive population who believes that authority is inherently good.

If authority and discipline are not accepted, the repressive takes away corporeal freedom (the word repressive is defined as “inhibiting or restraining the freedom of a person or group of people”). In other words, to resist the status quo will result in state-enforced violence.

The difference between the two is fairly simple. The Ideological Apparatus is focused on sub-concious, constant indoctrination. It is not upfront about its intentions, to the point that many who enforce is do not fully understand what they are doing. On the other hand, the Repressive Apparatus is solely focused on the enforcement of the Ideological’s indoctrination; enforcement of submission to the status quo. The Repressive involves violence, while the Ideological “moves” in the shadows.

Question 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkLxi4Tsm2E

My example of ideology is the song New York City cops by The Strokes. It is an example of ideology in art and represents Ideological Apparatuses. It was written in response to the 1999 murder of Amadou Diallo by New York City police officers.

1. A Repressive State Apparatus is a social function, dedicated to a power dynamic, “Which one is the “Correct” Social function” one where you will be praised and one where you won’t be. Repressive would be correct, because one eventually dominates the other and then you belittle and slam down others that don’t think the same as you or act the same way. 

2.

Althusser seems to think Ideological state apparatuses works the opposite as Repressive, it is less “violent” and more of a political debate/ belief then kind of shoving someone to act a certain way. Or shaming them for not acting the same way you do, sometimes even physically forcing them to.

3. 

The Two are different because one is very socially toxic, not solely based just on political agenda, based on how someone acts in socials. While the other one has to do with the idea of people having different ideologies on governments and the way the world should be. 

4.

This is an example of an Ideological apparatus, I chose a art piece to represent it… It shows different examples of certain ideologies throughout history. Some clearly being worse then other ideologies.

1. The army, police, court, and jail system comprise the Repressive State Apparatus. The main social purpose of the government, courts, police, and military forces is to intervene in politics on behalf of the ruling class’s interests, by suppressing the subordinate social classes when needed, using either violent or peaceful coercive measures. Althusser calls this repressive because of its limited freedom and you are told what is to be expected.
2. Althusser claims that ideological state apparatuses utilize tactics other than physical violence to attain the same goals as RSA. Educational institutions, media outlets, churches, social and sports groups, and the family may be among them.
3. The RSA and the ISA vary in that the repressive state apparatus acts as a unitary entity, but the ideological state apparatus is heterogeneous in nature and multiple in function. The ultimate power of the governing ideology, however, connects the diverse ISA.

1. 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 citizens of a government follow authority due to fear of violence or punishment. Althusser uses the word “repressive” to describe this state because it is to signify the restraint of freedom both physical and mental. Inhabits do not protest, speak their mind or exercise their free will because there isn’t any. This state would be most fittingly understood under a fascist regime. In Nazi Germany, those associating with or helping Jews would receive severe punishment which included death. However, a repressive state does not only apply to fascist rule.

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

In Ideological State Apparatuses there are about four state apparatuses that contribute to keeping the status quo in Capitalist Ideology. The first is the Democratic Apparatus, citizens have the right to vote and contribute to their representatives in government. The second is the Consumer Apparatus, people are given the “illusion of choice”, multiple stores that sell about the same product in a slightly different version but the customer choices which aesthetic they’d like to follow. The third is Entertainment Apparatus which plastic pills best described as “artificial allegiance that divides you from class allegiance”. The Entertainment Apparatus gives you a sense of belonging to a specific sport, music genre, or film genre and that can keep the majority of people in control to not rebel against the status quo of a capitalist society. The last and most vital apparatus is the School Apparatus as Althusser puts it “No other ideological state apparatus has the obligatory audience…of the children”. The School Apparatus demonstrates to children a version of what a capitalist society entails. The teacher is the authority figure that needs to be followed and respected, even if they are not good. Detention, suspension, and bad grades are the different forms of punishment for misbehaved children who go against their authority figures. All of these apparatuses keep the people in a capitalist system from rebelling against the status quo.

3. How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?

Repressive State Apparatus and Ideological State Apparatus have two different functions to maintain the status quo in a system or society. The Repressive State Apparatus relies on fear and punishment as a means to keep control of the people. Ideological State Apparatus relies on different apparatuses that are a form of distraction, the illusion of choice, or a smaller version of society. Ideological State Apparatus is more useful in a capitalist society because the target is the lower and middle classes. In the Ideological State different apparatuses are present to maintain the status quo and keep the majority from questioning those in power or worrying about the actions of their government. Repressive State Apparatus is present in a capitalist society but it is not the most useful due to how much power those in the upper class and government have. It is more useful in a fascist state because the government is the one who has full control and the only alternative to rebelling is punishment, which people fear.

4. Post an example of ideology, specify if this is an example of repressive or ideological apparatuses at work.

This is a notice from the S.S police warning the consequences of aiding Jews. The poster reads:

“Announcement

Death Penalty for Aid to Jews who have left the Jewish residential areas without permission

Recently, many Jews have left their designated Jewish residential areas. For the time, they are in the Warsaw District.

I remind you that according to the Third Decree of the General Governor’s concerning the residential restrictions in the General Government of 10/15/1941… not only Jews who have left their designated residential area will be punished with death, but the same penalty applies to anyone who knowingly provides refuge to such Jews. This includes not only the providing of a night’s lodging and food but also any other aid, such as transporting them in vehicles of any sort, through the purchase of Jewish valuables, etc.

I ask the population of the Warsaw District to immediately report any Jew who resides outside of a Jewish residential area to the nearest police station or gendarmerie post.

Whoever provided or currently provides aid to a Jew will not be prosecuted if it is reported to the nearest police station by 4 pm on 9/9/42.

Likewise, those who deliver valuables acquired from a Jew to 20 Niska Street or the nearest police or gendarme post by 4 pm on 9/9/42 will not be prosecuted.

The SS- and Police Leader in the Warsaw District

Warsaw, September 5, 1942″

This is a key representation of a Repressive State Apparatus.

The S.S police who controlled Nazi Germany sent a notice to all Germans informing the consequences and cruel punishment that would result in the aiding of Jews and rebelling against government orders.

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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.

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