The video portrays the struggles of inner city life through scenes of a overworked mother and children playing in the streets. It then contrasts this with a club scene where people dance to escape their lack of material wealth. The Marxist theory would view the family as the proletariat exploited by the bourgeoisie. However, it may reject the club scene as not truly challenging hegemonic ideals through supposed acts of defiance shown. Overall, the Marxist approach analyzes class struggles and sees the proletariat as a necessary part of society contrasted with the video's portrayal of inner city life.

1. Goldie’s Innercity Life
Analysis

2. Goldie Innercity life
• Goldie is an “English electronic music
artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor”. He
gained exposure through his graffiti arts and
then became known for innovations in the
music genres of bass and drums. The video
was released in 2006.

3. The Marxist Approach
• For this video I will be analysing the video through the Marxist theory which centre’s the following:
• The Marxist approach is an economical and sociopolitical theory that looks at society in terms of
classes and the struggles between them.
• It takes into consideration the materialistic needs of a person.
• It sees the mode of production as the basis to the majority of other social phenomena.
(social/political/legal systems)
• Because of this the class struggles exist, as materialistically there are inefficiencies between the
two classes.
• The bourgeoisie own the means of production; whilst the proletariat produces the goods and
services.
• Marxist theory believes that this socialist system is a necessity.
• “Hegemony is the ruling class’s domination through ideology and the shaping of popular
consent” Cultural Studies - Hegemony and Ideology - Media, Hegemonic, Culture, and Gitlin - JRank
Articles http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6487/Cultural-Studies.html#ixzz1qbTSl8aE
I will be questioning how the Marxist theory would see this video and if it’s ideas contradict it or not.

4. In the intro of the video we see bills,
and a single mother working whilst her
children are sitting down. She has an
exasperated and lonely look on her face
as she sighs. The video is clearly
showing us the hardships of her life. In
terms of the Marxist theory this family
would be known as the ‘proletariat’
and this would be advocated by the
approach.

5. We are introduced to young children who live in these ‘inner city’
parts. They spend their time playing ball games and hanging around.
The video is questioning whether these children of ‘proletariat’ have
a fair chance in life.

6. As the tempo of the music begins to become more upbeat, we see a
different side to this city. We’re in a club and people are dancing and
enjoying their time as the DJ spins the records. This may apply to the idea
of hegemony in the Marxist approach as these people are ‘following the
status quo’. However, one may question whether they are leading a
‘materialistic’ lifestyle or rather escaping the lack of it. Especially as there
are drugs circulating the club.

7. There is a complete contrast between these two scenes, from the
melodic scenes of the estates to the upbeat tempo of the clubs.
However, in both cases people who have turned to crime such as drug
abuse or those worrying about bills- are struggling.

8. Destructive imagery
• The video also presents
a lot of powerful yet
destructive imagery
such as a burning car, a
trolley being thrown
down and bills being
put on fire and thrown
away. This could be
Goldie’s way of
‘destroying’ both
poverty and a life of
materialism.

9. Summary
• The Marxist approach may reject some ideas
in the video and say that the proletariat are a
necessary part of society.
• Hegemonic control through the media would
also say that people’s ideas and thoughts
would be overpowered by those in control
and in some sense these acts of ‘destruction’
may be seen as defiance and do not really
exist in reality.