1. Do you notice any similarities in the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2? Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?

~~~Since 4.2 is not available on my side, I’ll be comparing and differentiating 4.1 & 4.3.~~~

Answer: Similarities: In both readings 4.1 & 4.3, some similarities were identifying social class by education level, “”The biggest impact of education on subjective social class comes at the college graduate level…” 4.1 “Along with factory and service workers, the employee class also includes professionals and managers who in income, education, and lifestyle tend to be identified as“middle” or “upper-middle” class” 4.3. Some differences between the readings and social classes. 4.1 explained the characteristics of social class while 4.3 focused more on capitalism. 4.3 explained the ultimate purpose of corporate therefore, 4.1 differentiate social class by age, rural areas, race, and education.

2. a) Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? 

Answer: Middle & working class

b) Are you surprised (or not) by the answer?  

Answer: No, not surprised.

c) Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?

Answer: Yes, it is an accurate representation of the people living in my neighborhood. 

3. Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?

Answer: In my opinion, the general pattern about social classes in NYC tends to be fenced off. Therefore, every neighborhood in NYC has people of different social class or perhaps some neighborhoods have middle class such as Queens Village & working class Lower East Side while other neighborhoods have upper class which is SoHo.

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, the state as a force of repressive execution and intervention, to maintain order and control which includes the police and military. Althusser calls it “repressive” because it controls the threat of violence including courts and prisons. For example, a prison is used to confine individuals who pose a threat to society and break the law. 

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

~Some Ideological State Apparatuses are social institutions such as schools, churches and the media to maintain control. In school, students are being taught to follow their schedule and get to class in a timely manner and also to respect and obey authorities. Persuading in school helps open a path of understanding about life. Learning and developing new skills, following rules and laws, and doing tasks in a timely manner. Most importantly, an individual identifies with the state through emotional or ideological belief in it. Failure to follow rules in school can lead to forcibly removed from class, parents will be informed and get detention if an assignment is late.

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

~Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are different from each other because RSA is the function of repression, basically maintaining control which involves police and military whereas, ISA is the function of ideology which includes institutions such as an educational system and media. 

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.

~The Bill Of Rights is an ISA because it emphasizes the rights of individuals when it comes to religion, freedom of speech and press. It’s a set of briefs to protect individual rights. 

What is Ideology?
In my view, ideology is a concept of an economic or political theory which is a set of ideas, beliefs, values and principles that reflects understanding of the social world which shapes decisions.

Example of Ideology
An example of ideology is socialism. Socialism is an economic and political system where the state owns and controls the means of production. Its goal is to seek inequality by measuring out among the population by economic planning to provide basic needs.

Difference between conservative & liberal ideology in US politics
>Liberal ideology is individual rights, equality and liberty therefore, advocates or supporters of a political philosophy. Liberals believe that the government can help solve problems, support government intervention in the economy such as regulations and higher taxes therefore, government protecting the environment

  >Conservative ideology values tradition and strong nation identity which limits government intervention therefore, favor policies such as lower taxes and private ownership. 

Example
Conservative are people who favor free enterprise and socially traditional ideas. Also, promotes nuclear family organized religion and property rights. It’s more of a gradual change to maintain social order. Whereas, liberals believe everyone should be treated the same way. Liberalism separation of powers into different branches of government, a separation of religion from the government and freedom of speech.

Althusser’s Ideology
The analysis of Louis Althusser institutions such as the educational system, churches, etc exist to reproduce capitalist relations of production and maintain order in society. Therefore, education helps to control the masses.