1. What is a Repressive State Apparatus? Why does Althusser call it “repressive”?
    • A Repressive State Apparatus are institutions that keep state power through fear and physical force, this includes our justice system. The term repressive is used by Althusser because he is explaining to us that institutions, the army, prison, and courts use violence or the threat of violence to maintain order. An example of this would be when police used force against peaceful protests during the Civil Rights Movement. 
  2. What are Ideological State Apparatus, and how do they work?
    • Ideological State Apparatuses are institutions such as schools, churches or even the media that educate and spread ideology without using force. While not always intentional, these institutions shape and mold people’s values and beliefs which determine how they view the world and how it should be run.    
  3. How are the Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses different from each other? What is the difference between the two?
    • Repressive and Ideological State Apparatuses and essentially opposite to each other. While RSAs focus on maintaining order through force and fear, ISAs don’t use force but instead shape people’s beliefs and values without realizing it. For example, the school system would fall under the ISAs category  because of how it teaches students about not only core subjects but about respecting authority and obedience without force. However, a prison teaches the same things but in a form of force and fear. 
  4. Example of Ideology
    • The example of ideology I chose was the US army commercial “Be All You Can Be”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vHhflgAt5w .
      This commercial would be considered an ideological apparatus. It shows people the opportunities they could achieve by enlisting into the army including personal success and growth, stability, and discipline. This advertisement does not include any physical force on any individual but instead persuades and shapes the idea of how important it is to have patriotism and serve the country. 








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