Bourgeoise- class that owns the means of production in a capitalist society
Working class
Proletariat- social class of capitalist society that does not have ownership the means of production. Their means of survival is to sell their labour power.
Who runs the media?
Bourgeoise controls the media to benefit the ruling class by reinforcing ruling class ideologies such as the belief that unequal society systems are natural, fair and legitimate creating a false consciousness.
conflict and consensus
The media is seen to promote the idea that we live in consensus when we actually live in a conflict. Marxists argue that this is based on conflict because the bourgeoisies exploit the proletariat by aiming to get the most work for the least cost.
superstructure
institutions in society such as religion, family, education and the media,
Base
economic base- infrastructure such as machines, land, factories. owned by the bourgeoise.
Base and superstructure link
The economic base controls the superstructure and the bourgeoise owns the economic base. So ideologies of the ruling class are passed down in media representations.
Bourgeoise and the proletariat
Society is in conflict, this must suggest that there is a power struggle between the two classes. This power struggle is because both classes need each other. In capitalist societies the Proletariat need the bourgeoisie because without them, they wouldn’t have any jobs and no way of earning money. But the Bourgeoisie also need the proletariat, to do the work and make them profits.
