open and closed definitions of ideology

Open and Closed Definitions of Ideology
Eoin Devereux (2003 : Understanding the media, p. 100 - 101)

• Theorist : Karl Marx (1818 - 1883)
• Definition of Ideology : Closed/materialist. negative.
• Mass Media Ideological Role : only indirectly concerned with this issue. nineteenth century newspapers supportive of capitalism. Marx in this role as a journalist and commentator critique the capitalist system within the print media.
• Conceptualization of Media Audience : Working class or proletariat have "false conciousness"

• Theorist : The Frankfurt school. various members, including Theodore W Adorno (1903-1969) and Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979).
• Definition of Ideology : Closed / Materialist. Negative.
• Mass Media Ideological Role : mass media are a powerful source of propaganda. specially concerned with propaganda within radio and film in nazi germany.
• Conceptualization of Media Audience : audience are duped by emerging mass media.

• Theorist : Louis Althusser (1918-1990)
• Definition of Ideology : Increasingly Open
• Mass Media Ideological Role : Mass media's role as an ideological state apparatus is to legitimize the capitalist system.
• Conceptualization of Media Audience : The mass media have the appearance of being relatively autonomous from the powerful capitalist class. the mass media manage to give greater legitimacy to certain kinds of ideas over others.

• Theorist : Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)
• Definition of Ideology : Increasingly Open
• Mass Media Ideological Role : Mass media play a central role in the creation of hegemony in the interest of the capitalist class.
• Conceptualization of Media Audience : Applications of Gramsci's ideas see a continious struggle within media texts in order to achieve hegemony

• Theorist : John B Thompson
• Definition of Ideology : Open / relaxed. emphasis on dominant and other counter hegemonic ideologies.
• Mass Media Ideological Role : A tripartite ideological analisys of the mass media is required to take account of the production context, the content of the text and the agency of audience members.
• Conceptualization of Media Audience : Audiences are active and capable of considerable agency. the effect or not of dominant ideology is based upon taking a depth hermeneutic approach.