Topic 6 - Representations of social class

Rarely focus on social tensions and class conflict.

NEO-MARXISTS - ensure that cultural hegemony of the dominat capitalist calss and the inequality and exploitation are not defined as social problems.

Representations of the monachy

Narin (1988) - the monarchy has sucessfully converted the mass media and rarely recieves any criticism.

After WW2 the monachy reinvented itself as the 'royal family', who stood for national values.

Created a national obsession with the royal family.

Media representations of the Queen as reinforcing national identity.

Media sees royal events as national events. (e.g. Diana)

Royals appear more in tabloid newspapers and celebrity magazines.

BBC and ITV have 'royal correspondants who 'protect' the royal family.

Representations of the upper-class and wealth

NEO-MARXISTS - media representations tend to celebrate hierachy and wealth.

Those who benefit recieve positive press and vice versa.

Popular films and television costume dramas tend to represent the upper-class in a more eccentric and nostalgic way.

Representations of wealth:

Reiner (2007) and Young (2007) - media represent the UK as a meritocratic society. (MARXISTS would say that rhis is an ideological myth)

Cohen and Young (1981) - British culture = a monetary culture which has a 'chaos of rewards'.

Newman (2006) - tabloid media dedicate a great deal of their content to the wealthy elite.

The media focus very positively of the wealthy elite.

Representations of the middle classes

Their concerns are over represented in the media.

Four broad sociological observations…