Article Summary
Storey J - 'Cultural Theory and Popular Culture': Althusserianism
The extract focuses on the importance of Louis Althusser in the development of cultural theory and in particular sates that within this his most important development was his different attempts to categorize ideology. At the foundation of this is Althusser's rejection of the 'mechanistic interpretation of the base/superstructure formulation' in favour of social formation of which ideology, along with economics and politics, makes up its key practices. What is meant by this is that the superstructure (ie societal,economic and political institutes), are not simply an expression of the base, the individuals within a society who can also be seen as the means of production) but rather they rely on it to ground there own existence.
Althusser's definition of ideology is of key importance to this as he argues that ideology is a system, series of representations such as pictures or a practice through which people tie there view of the world to the 'real conditions of existence'. That is to say ideology dispels the contradictions within the relationship between the base superstructure by offering 'false but seemingly true' resolution to problems.
Furthermore Althusser's definition of ideology is a closed system in that it only ever sets itself 'such problems as it can answer' and remain within its own boundaries. This leads to the creation of what Althusser refers to as the problematic. This refers to information that appears to be absent from, for example, a piece of writing, that once revealed gives us a deeper insight into the text its self as well as the assumptions which inform it. Therefore when looking at any given piece of information we should apply what Althusser refers to as 'symptomatic reading' where by it is de-constructed to reveal the problematic.
Thursday 5 November 2015
Thursday 22 October 2015
Image Analysis Exercise
The two images were created for two very different purposes and at different points in time. The first serves as a simple product advertisement ; an Abendroth Bros range cooker, where as the second images serves to promote British colonialism and empire as being just and ethical. However despite this key difference in the context that the images were created for there are many similarities between the two.
Both images try and illustrate a sense of progress and prosperity particularly through the advent of new technologies. The product itself in the first image can be seen to show this as its creator is trying to convey the idea that this new product is the embodiment of social unity and progress within the USA. This is shown by the depiction of a clock showing the centenary of the Declaration of Independence which is trying to give sense of how far it has come in such a short time. For example the depiction of Dixie, New England and the West all being sat together shows the adversity it has over come through the ending of the civil war. The second image however shows technology more as a means of progress rather than the embodiment of it. This is due to the declaration and subsequent depiction of 'Colonial Progress' in the form of new infrastructure and transport being used to 'Bring Home Prosperity' within the British Empire.
It would appear that both images were produced with a white, male middle class to upper-middle class viewer in mind. Thus they both reflect the social values of a patriarchal society. This is shown in the first image by the masculine figure of Uncle Sam taken centre stage and being served and having food served to his guests rather than cooking or serving himself. Even the posture of Uncle Sam could be seen to reinforce this as he is sat in a strong, spread out pose displaying his masculinity where as the other figures appears more drawn in and reserved. This value is also reflected in the second image by the lack of women in the depiction of 'East African Transport -New Style' suggesting that the creator and therefore target audience view labour and work as a male only role. Furthermore the depiction of another male figure, stood in a dominant posture whilst towering over all the other figures, also serves to reinforce the idea of a male dominated patriarchal society which reflect that of both 1930s England and 1870s United States of America.
Both images also serve to perpetuate racism and segregation present at the time. Both images show African figures in positions of menial labour and servitude whilst white male figures stand ideally by which is reminiscent of slavery despite both images having been produced after its abolition; 1865 in the USA and 1833 in the UK. In both images these figures have been depicted in a highly insulting manner with all sense of personality, emotion and individuality being removed from them. Furthermore both images would suggest that this is the ways things should be as the both the USA and UK are superior, in the image makers eyes, to other cultures. This is shown by insulting depictions of stereotypes within the first image, the World's bill containing lists of various offensive food stereotypes of other countries suck as Birds Nest Soup for China, as well as traditional or 'simple' ways of living being replaced with new technology to create prosperity.
With all this in mind it could be argued that both images perpetuate a false history of both the United States, the British Empire and arguably the West as a whole. This is due to the fact that both have ideas and images relating to prosperity, progress and unity being juxtaposed alongside the racism and sexism within white, male dominated societies. This serves to undermine the sense of a positive, progressive and advanced society which both images are trying to perpetuate.
The two images were created for two very different purposes and at different points in time. The first serves as a simple product advertisement ; an Abendroth Bros range cooker, where as the second images serves to promote British colonialism and empire as being just and ethical. However despite this key difference in the context that the images were created for there are many similarities between the two.
Both images try and illustrate a sense of progress and prosperity particularly through the advent of new technologies. The product itself in the first image can be seen to show this as its creator is trying to convey the idea that this new product is the embodiment of social unity and progress within the USA. This is shown by the depiction of a clock showing the centenary of the Declaration of Independence which is trying to give sense of how far it has come in such a short time. For example the depiction of Dixie, New England and the West all being sat together shows the adversity it has over come through the ending of the civil war. The second image however shows technology more as a means of progress rather than the embodiment of it. This is due to the declaration and subsequent depiction of 'Colonial Progress' in the form of new infrastructure and transport being used to 'Bring Home Prosperity' within the British Empire.
It would appear that both images were produced with a white, male middle class to upper-middle class viewer in mind. Thus they both reflect the social values of a patriarchal society. This is shown in the first image by the masculine figure of Uncle Sam taken centre stage and being served and having food served to his guests rather than cooking or serving himself. Even the posture of Uncle Sam could be seen to reinforce this as he is sat in a strong, spread out pose displaying his masculinity where as the other figures appears more drawn in and reserved. This value is also reflected in the second image by the lack of women in the depiction of 'East African Transport -New Style' suggesting that the creator and therefore target audience view labour and work as a male only role. Furthermore the depiction of another male figure, stood in a dominant posture whilst towering over all the other figures, also serves to reinforce the idea of a male dominated patriarchal society which reflect that of both 1930s England and 1870s United States of America.
Both images also serve to perpetuate racism and segregation present at the time. Both images show African figures in positions of menial labour and servitude whilst white male figures stand ideally by which is reminiscent of slavery despite both images having been produced after its abolition; 1865 in the USA and 1833 in the UK. In both images these figures have been depicted in a highly insulting manner with all sense of personality, emotion and individuality being removed from them. Furthermore both images would suggest that this is the ways things should be as the both the USA and UK are superior, in the image makers eyes, to other cultures. This is shown by insulting depictions of stereotypes within the first image, the World's bill containing lists of various offensive food stereotypes of other countries suck as Birds Nest Soup for China, as well as traditional or 'simple' ways of living being replaced with new technology to create prosperity.
With all this in mind it could be argued that both images perpetuate a false history of both the United States, the British Empire and arguably the West as a whole. This is due to the fact that both have ideas and images relating to prosperity, progress and unity being juxtaposed alongside the racism and sexism within white, male dominated societies. This serves to undermine the sense of a positive, progressive and advanced society which both images are trying to perpetuate.
Thursday 8 October 2015
Preparitory task
Historical - of or concerning history or past events. Based on or constructed from an event, person, custom, style etc in the past.
“I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.”
- Virginia Wool
( reblogged from http://americanhistory.unomaha.edu/module_files/DrSeussProduction.jpg )
( reblogged from http://www.mostfreebies.com/WorldWar2/Large/16InchGuns.jpg )
Social - relating to society or its organisation.
“Solitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.”- Honoré de Balzac
( re blogged from http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/serafine-frey-1 )
(reblogged from https://cre8tiveyouthink.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/ecooperbikes1084.jpg )
Political - of, relating to or dealing with the structure or affairs of government, politics or the state.
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx
( reblogged from http://www.ralphsteadmanartcollection.com/images/collections/Small%20Warts%20and%20All%20-%20Nixon_edited-1.jpg )
Technological - relating to or involving technology
- affected by or resluting from scientific and industrial progess.
"All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness." - Mark Kennedy
( reblogged from http://www.jeanjullien.com/work-185-webdagene.html )
( reblogged from http://www.channelweb.co.uk/IMG/661/146661/bored-businessman.jpg )
Cultural - relating to the ideas, customs or social behaviours of a society.
"We seldom realize, for example that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society." - Alan W Watts
( reblogged from https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/477240891736832981/ )
( reblogged from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1759287329693102/ )
Historical - of or concerning history or past events. Based on or constructed from an event, person, custom, style etc in the past.
“I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.”
- Virginia Wool
( reblogged from http://americanhistory.unomaha.edu/module_files/DrSeussProduction.jpg )
( reblogged from http://www.mostfreebies.com/WorldWar2/Large/16InchGuns.jpg )
Social - relating to society or its organisation.
“Solitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.”- Honoré de Balzac
( re blogged from http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/serafine-frey-1 )
(reblogged from https://cre8tiveyouthink.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/ecooperbikes1084.jpg )
Political - of, relating to or dealing with the structure or affairs of government, politics or the state.
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx
( reblogged from http://www.ralphsteadmanartcollection.com/images/collections/Small%20Warts%20and%20All%20-%20Nixon_edited-1.jpg )
( reblogged from http://www.motherjones.com/files/nixon-resigns-573x3821.jpg )
- affected by or resluting from scientific and industrial progess.
"All of the biggest technological inventions created by man – the airplane, the automobile, the computer – says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness." - Mark Kennedy
( reblogged from http://www.channelweb.co.uk/IMG/661/146661/bored-businessman.jpg )
Cultural - relating to the ideas, customs or social behaviours of a society.
"We seldom realize, for example that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society." - Alan W Watts
( reblogged from https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/477240891736832981/ )
( reblogged from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1759287329693102/ )
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