Repressive apparatus uses violence and fear to control individuals. Using police, the courts and jails as a weapon to instill compliance. A repressive system restrains the freedom of individuals and groups.

 Ideological apparatuses use a set of standards to influence people it uses schools and mass media to control individuals by enforcing they’re standards for example you go to school and learn to raise your hand to talk. 

While ideological uses a set of standards to influence obedience. A repressive uses fear and threats of violence to control people.  

An example of ideological apparatus is a song by the black-eyed peas called Where is the love. The songs touches on many political topics including war, racism, and pollution. It speaks on unity in the face of civil unrest. It questions why we lack the understanding for one another. 

A Repressive State Apparatus (such as prison and the police force) refers to the secondary step in Althusser’s proposed ideological system. RSA is implemented to correct behaviors that exist outside of the ideological framework given to society. The choice of the word “repressive” is well chosen here because the goal of this apparatus is to reinforce the “correct” ideology while simultaneously repressing any human instinct that might pose a threat to the individuals ability to fulfill their role in this system.

2. An Ideological State Apparatus such as school, church and the mass media are tools used to implement and engrain the ideological agenda. They teach us the basic principles of this system and our place in it through discipline, intensive and consistent work schedules, authority that we must answer to, and social assimilation. Everyone including those in power have a part to play in this system and it heavily relies on the mass acceptance of this ideology as our universal truth.

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?

RSA and ISA differ because in the ideological phase (ISA). We are being taught and indoctrinated into a way of thinking through persuasion and influence. Within the concept of RSA the dynamic changes from gentle guidance to forceful assimilation. We see this dynamic shift if a person shows sign of free thinking that do not align with the taught ideology.

4. This piece of media would be considered a commentary on Repressive State Apparatus because it centers around the concept of military effort and the indoctrination of extremist mindsets.

(Happiness Is a Warm Gun)

1 . A Repressive State Apparatus (RSA) is ant institution or system that use direct control, coercion, or force to uphold social order. These are basically organization that are involved in the actual physical enforcement of laws and regulation, such as the police, the military, courts, and prison. These institutions use direct physical force to repress people or organization who question the existing quo, Althusser refers to it as “repressive.” This term in this contact refers to their function of physically restricting or dominating individuals, typically by violence, incarceration, or punishment. The major purpose is to keep things in order by using force instead of persuasion. For instance, the military or police may use physical force to disperse a demonstration or detain someone for noncompliance.

2 . The system that use more subdued, convincing techniques to uphold the prevailing worldview in society are know as ideological state apparatuses, or ISAs. Schools, places of worship, the media, family units, and cultural standards are a few examples. In order for people to assimilate and embrace the prevailing ideology without necessarily requiring direct coercion, the ISA works to mold their ideas, values, and beliefs. By developing and propagating ideas that present the current social order as inevitable or natural, ISA operate. They influence how we see the world and uphold existing power dynamics. Even thought they don’t use force, they have a significant impact on making sure that people follow social norms and expectations.

A great example would be the the educational system, for instance, teachers students about ethics, history, and values that frequently coincide with the objectives of the state or a dominating group.

3 . Distinguishing Repressive and ideological State Apparatuses: The primary distinction between RSAs and ISAs is how they uphold power. Police, military, and prisons are examples of RSAs that use force and physical authority to enforce conformity, whereas ISAs use social institution and ideological manipulation to influence peoples views, values and actions

An overview of the distinction would be RSAs are forced-based, direct physical means of control. ISAs are idea based, indirect, and persuade mens of control. An example that demonstrates the distinction is;

A protester get arrested by the police for interfering with a demonstration (RSA). The public is gently persuaded that protests of the nature are hazardous or disloyal by the medias portrayed of the demonstrators as a threat to social order (ISA).

4 . An illustration of ideology would be if you were watching a luxury vehicle advertisement. The car is portrayed in the advertisement as a symbol of achievement , prestige, and ambition in addition to being a mode of mobility. The fundamental idea is that having an automobile like that will improve your social standing and show off your accomplishments.

Explanation: Since it is influencing people’s aspiration and views about success and prestige rather than coercing them into purchasing the car, this is an illustration of an ideological state apparatus at action. It encourages people to adopt the consumerism mentality and the notion that success in life is directly related to material prosperity.

1. Althusser describes a repressive state apparatus as any organization that uses the threat of violence to control behavior, such as the police or the courts. It is called repressive because it restricts people’s physical freedom. When other forms of social control are ineffective at keeping people “in their place,” the repressive apparatus takes over as a backup. Martial Law could be an example of how the state may use repressive measures to maintain authority.

• Ideological State Apparatuses are institutions like schools, politics, and mass media that work to keep social control by preventing changes to the status quo. Places like schools are a good example, you are taught to obey a strictly set schedule in school, which includes seven or eight hours of instruction with an hour of free time. You learn to respect authority, obey, share your pencils, clean up after yourself, not speak out of turn, and raise your hand if you want to speak.

• Isa influences people through ideas, whereas RSA uses force to control them. To enforce the law and stop opposing views, RSAs like the military and law enforcement use repression and force. They operate in a physical and open manner. ISAs, on the other hand, such as media outlets and educational institutions, have power by influencing ideologies, values, and beliefs. They use deeper strategies, focused on influencing consent and guaranteeing compliance instead of force

• The pledge of allegiance is an example of ideology “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Its an ISA, it shapes opinions on freedom, unity, and the legitimacy of the state, quietly growing nationalism as the present ideology. It promotes loyalty and consent, it uses repetition and persuasion. Every morning, it is recited in the majority of schools, encouraging in children to have a sense of patriotism and national loyalty.

1. a repressive state apparatus (rsa) is a part of the government that enforces rules and laws through force or punishment. althusser calls it “repressive” because it uses violence or the threat of violence to maintain order and keep people following the system. this includes organizations like the police, military, prisons, and courts.example: if people protest against the government, the police may break up the protest or arrest people. this is a way the state controls the population using force.
2. ideological state apparatuses (isa) are different because they shape people’s beliefs and ideas instead of using force. they work by teaching people what to think and how to behave in ways that support the system. these include schools, churches, media, and family.example: schools teach students to follow rules, work hard, and respect authority. this makes them prepared to enter society and accept the existing system without questioning it too much.
3. the difference between rsa and isa is that rsa controls people through force, while isa influences people through ideas. rsa includes things like the police and military, which physically stop people from breaking the rules. isa includes things like education and religion, which teach people to accept the rules as normal.
4. example of ideology: a commercial that tells people that “hard work leads to success” is an example of an ideological state apparatus. it spreads the idea that if you are poor, it is your own fault for not working hard enough, even though many other factors (like government policies or social class) also affect success. this is an example of isa because it is shaping people’s beliefs rather than using force.

1. Repressive State Apparatus refers to the forces that put fear into people in order to control them. This includes the police, judges, the prison system and army. Althusser calls it repressive because they enforce the rules and creates a status of obedience for the people. An example is how he says teachers are not to blame for punishing students. They are simply following what they are instructed so they do not get in trouble themselves.

• 2. Ideological Apparatuses shape people’s mind and maintain obedience. They seem to work as mental barriers to keep the person in line. Subconsciously having them obey, regular working order with no other forces other than what has been conditioned of them. In other words, the automatic state of behavior. A way of staying out of trouble.
• 3. The main difference between Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses are how appear to control us. Repressive State Apparatuses are outside influences that remind us to obey them. Ideological State Apparatuses are internal conditioning of our minds made already to obey command. The two are very similar in the way they control us and maintain order. Though the difference lies in the format they appear to us in.
• 4. This is an art piece by John and Catherine Rufo. The piece is representative of ideological apparatuses at work because of the structure. A clumped up area with similar colored houses it seems that fall into how Ideological Apparatuses work.

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.

As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:

1. Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
2. Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
3. Type your response
4. On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 3.2”
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.
6. Click Publish and you’re done.

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.