Chapter 11: Discourse and Ideology

Key Concepts

• Discourse: Describes the ways in which ideas and values are communicated. It encompasses language, texts, and other forms of expression. Discourse is concerned with how societies make sense of various topics, such as crime, through different lenses, including medical, legal, and moral perspectives.
• Ideology: Refers to sets of social values, beliefs, and feelings that people use to make sense of the world. Ideologies are often naturalized as common-sense views and are reinforced by media and social institutions.
• Hegemony: Relates to the negotiation, maintenance, and disputation of ideologies within society. It will be further discussed in subsequent chapters.

Theoretical Framework

• Influenced by theorists Michel Foucault, Louis Althusser, and Antonio Gramsci.
• Focus on the distribution and maintenance of power in society through discourse and ideology.

Discourse Analysis

• Societal understanding of topics like criminality involves multiple discourses, which can change over time.
• Western Discourses of Criminality: Include medical (sickness), religious/moral (good vs. evil), and legal (danger to society) perspectives.

Ideology and 'Unconscious Consciousness'

• Ideologies influence both rational and emotional aspects of human behavior.
• They operate unconsciously, shaping actions and beliefs without conscious awareness.

Examples in Media

• Orange Is the New Black: Challenges stereotypes around criminality by featuring diverse characters. The show negotiates discourses of race, gender, and class.
• Children’s Readers: Early readers like the Ladybird series convey ideologies of class, gender, and ethnicity, promoting a naturalized view of a white, middle-class family.

Ideologies in Material Institutions

• Architectural designs of homes and educational buildings reflect societal ideologies, such as family structures and educational methods.
• Lecture theatres, for example, embody an ideology of passive knowledge transmission.

Identity and Interpellation

• Identity is a social construct influenced by factors like ethnicity, class, and gender.
• Interpellation: The process by which individuals internalize identities through social interactions and media.
• National identity, for example, is reinforced through media narratives and discourse.

Conclusion

• Individual identity is not separate from culture but is a social construct influenced by symbolic systems.
• Recognizing and understanding ideologies give individuals the power to consider different world views and potentially alter their own.

Discussion Points

1. Explore discourses of criminality in films and shows like "True Detective" and "Orange Is the New Black."
2. Analyze how different media communicate about drug use in series like "Breaking Bad."
3. Examine the ideological implications of architectural plans for public buildings.
4. Reflect on the different names you are known by and their ideological significance.
5. Identify examples of interpellation in media and discuss their impact on identity formation.
6. Discuss theories regarding individual autonomy versus societal influence on identity.

Learning Objectives

• Define and discuss discourse and ideology.
• Identify how ideologies manifest in everyday life and media.
• Understand interpellation and its role in shaping identities.
• Evaluate personal identity as a social construct.