The article on Marxism explains the idea that the ruling class has ideals and values that are shown and displayed to the subordinate groups in order to win their consent. The idea of hegemony is played on because the ruling class owns the mean of production. They use their advantages to convince the subordinate groups of their beliefs.
This definitely relates to the television series Nip/Tuck. The owners and producers of Nip/Tuck display the important value of science to their audience. This value is seen through the beauty and perfection of not only women, but also men, that are on the show. The theme song alone says, “Make me beautiful...” This tune is something that can stick in someone’s mind just like any other rhythmic pattern. In the contemporary world of popular culture physical appearance is very important. Women are expected to be thinner than they ever have been, and men as well. Kimber, the beautiful, sexy, and perfect porn star, gets liposuction, breast implants, as well as many other different surgical procedures. Also, Christian, the dreamy doctor, gets liposuction because he couldn’t get his body the way he wanted to with working out. This idea that science is the modern way of thinking is shown through cosmetic procedures. The ruling class, the producers of the show, is winning the consent over all other groups. They are convincing their audience that science and plastic surgery is the modern way of living. They are also convincing them that physical appearance is a very important part of life.
3 comments:
I think you did a good job analyzing the ideas which are being transmitted by the dominant group. What are the hegemonic relationships that exist on the show and would you consider Christian and Sean exploited or part of the dominant group?
Yeah, hegemony is a big part of this show since it is all about conforming to an ideal. Not that the creators think this, but the standards people try to live up to is a major theme of the show.
Another thing to think about is the idea of money. It takes a lot of money to go through these procedures that make you "perfect." This definatly supports the class system because it sends a message that people without money for these procedures can never be perfect.
Post a Comment