This document discusses ideology and its representation in film. It defines ideology as a set of dominant beliefs in society like capitalism, patriotism, and religion. Karl Marx believed the bourgeoisie class manipulated ideology to benefit their wealth and control the lower classes. Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony also suggested the ruling class manipulates society's value systems. In film, ideology can be seen in the representation of different social groups. Working class characters are often shown as unemployed, alcoholic, or foolish while upper class characters appear happy and well-behaved. Superhero films promote individualism and patriotism. The document proposes a film called "After Hours" that represents ideology as unattainable by showing a character who

1. Representation and
Ideology In Film

2. What is Ideology?
Ideology is a set of beliefs held by the majority of society which suggests the way
we should aim to live our lives. Dominant ideologies include:
• Capitalism
• Patriotism
• Marriage and Family
• Male Superiority
• Religion
• Individualism
We are constantly told to conform to these aspects of society through education,
the media and the government. Everything we see in texts around us are
communicating a different message in a subliminal way. For example, the
patriotism in newspapers can manipulate our minds into thinking negatively
about immigration into our country, whilst seeing an advert for first class flights
convince us that that kind of wealth is achievable to everyone. The government
want us to believe in these ideologies to ensure social stability.

3. What does Karl Marx have to do with it?
The infamous communist Karl Marx suggested that the capitalist bourgeoisie
mercilessly exploited the proletariat in order to receive the highest level of work for
the minimum price to increase their own wealth. The products created in factories
were sold by the bourgeoisie at a non-proportional rate to the wages given to the
proletariat workers. Marx suggested that capitalism contained the seeds of its own
destruction in the way that the rich depended on the working class for their wealth.
He concluded that a proletariat revolution was inevitable and a communist society
would form out of it.
In relation to ideology, Karl Marx highlighted the idea that we are all manipulated to
support in the ideologies, which were made by the bourgeoisie, to initially benefit
their own wealth. This group of people control all of the wealth and it is used to
manipulate all aspects of society so that the lower classes do exactly what they are
being told to without objection, in a way that appears to be individual choice.
The main ideology that is projected by the bourgeoisie is capitalism.

4. Antonio Gramsci and Hegemony
Antonio Gramsci was a Marxist and he suggested that there is great power behind
ideology in his theory of cultural hegemony. In a similar way to Karl Marx, he believed
that the ruling class manipulated the value system and moral codes of society in order
to benefit them.
In film and TV, this can be seen through the way that the different groups in society
are represented.

5. Representation in Film?
Within film, we can see these dominant ideologies through the
representation of different groups in society. For example, an
extremely prevalent representation is the class system.
Mostly, we see representations of classes in film to subconsciously
persuade the audience that they need to achieve the wealth of the
bourgeoisie. Some examples of this are;
• Spike Island, 2012 – In this film, we see representations of the
Mancunian working class. In the character Uncle Hairy, this group
of society are represented to be unemployed, alcoholic, homeless
and foolish. The character of Gary is represented to be honest,
trendy and solely interested in music and women… however,
even despite of this positive representation, he is represented to
be surrounded by negative stereotypes. Moreover, the only
female character in the film is seen to be slightly higher class than
the others since she can afford to buy a ticket to the Stone Roses
concert. She is represented to be happy, gentle and polite,
therefore suggesting that the upper classes are more intelligent
and better behaved. As we can see, even though this is an
independent film , there are still representations which support
the dominant ideologies of society.

6. Ideology in Film?
In Hollywood film we see the undercurrent of ideology shown
constantly. In superhero films we see individualism at its most prevalent
form. These films put out the idea that the individual can achieve
anything and everything they strive to achieve. Additionally, we tend to
see patriotism – one man risks his life to save his country; the ideology
of marriage and family – one man risks everything he can to save
his/other people’s families; heterosexuality and male superiority – the
male hero and his damsel in distress.
These films work to subconsciously get the mass to conform to a certain
way of life which enables the stability of hierarchy. In some ways,
superheroes represent the bourgeoisie; they have control over the
masses and no one disputes their power.

7. Ideology in ‘After Hours’?
In our film, we want to show that cultural ideology is a forced set of unattainable
beliefs. Our main character Don Walters is a social vagrant. He is divorced, living with
his mum, he is stuck in a dead end job, he doesn’t care for artificial appearances and
he is miserable. This character goes against societal ideologies in the way that he is no
hero, yet he is the protagonist and the audience can identify with him.
The body of the film shows his progression towards happiness, however, we prove
that happiness isn’t directly correlated with achieving social ideology. At the end of
the film Don is in the same position as he was in before, he has just learned that he
doesn’t need to idealize having the perfect family or being the most successful man
ever, he doesn't need to strive to be anyone else, he has to be himself and fulfil things
for himself, then he will be happy.
On the other hand, we embody ideology in the form of Richard Stoker. He is a perfect
example of who society wants us to be. He works hard to achieve occupational
success; he is artificially attractive and he follows the teachers handbook down to a
tee. Nevertheless, we learn that Richard has a secret in his past which is far from the
ideas of societal ideology: his career in pornography. This tarnishes Richard’s
appearance of perfection and suggests that his happiness is forced, therefore
suggesting that ideology is an unachievable concept.