Ideology

• Capatalism = an economic system based on wealth
• Capitalism encourages individuals to pursue self-interest
• Anti-capitalism argues that it is crimogenic: encourages criminal behaviour
• Neo - conservatism is a political ideology that advocates for the preservation of traditional values and institutions.
• The gap between the rich and the poor has led to a culture of individualism where people have to compete with each other and take what they want in order to survive.
• Opponents to neo-conservatism (the Coen brothers) say it made America an unequal country suffering from extremely high levels of unemployment
• NCFOM is a reflection of the aggressive, hyper competitive society
• NCFOM explores the effects when greed, ruthlessness and individualism is taken to the extreme
• Subverts the western genre: it is far removed from the patriotic values and moral certainties embodied by the western genre
• Sherriff Bell monologue beginning the film bemoans the abandonment of traditional values and despairs the brutality and impersonal nature of America
• Coen Brothers seem to be providing audience with a complex, un-idealised vision of contemporary America
• Ideology scenes: Moss takes the briefcase (capitalism) + CJ's death / ending (feminism / capitalism)
• Masculinity: strong, aggressive, powerfully, sexually active
• Masculine traits more ideologically valued.
• Femininity: weak, passive, powerless, sexually passive/objectified
• There are very few female characters, and they tend to have passive roles.
• The patriarchal society in NCFOM show masculinity to be competitive, violent, aggressive and leading towards death.
• When Moss exhibits traditionally ‘feminine’ traits it weakens him e.g. when he takes water the man displaying sympathy and care, he has to go on the run
• Chigurh represents a stoic masculinity: he is the antagonist thus it could be implied, through implicit ideology, that these traits are not morally ideal, he does survive at the end and is arguably the most ‘successful’ character in the film so perhaps the film attempts to reassert an idea of masculine dominance via traditional ideas of strength, stamina and physical power.