Gramsci & Marx

When describing hegemony, Gramsci means groups that have less priority in a society accept the ideas and beliefs of the more dominating class because they “have reason of their own.” Stating that they believe it is good sense, or good judgment. According to Gramsci, “…the Bourgeoisie is based on two equally important facts: economic domination and intellectual and moral leadership.” Those that lacked these characteristics were considered much lower. The “dominant groups in society” maintain their power through their clever tactic, “spontaneous consent,” which help give them the lead.
“Capitalism was clearly doomed to imminent failure in 1846”, yet it seem to continue because of the concept of Hegemony. One class has dominated the other classes in society, and therefore developed the ability to introduce their ideologies. Overtime these ideologies have conditioned the other classes into believing that those ideas and beliefs were accurate, and that there was no room for change. The other classes of society come to accept the dominant groups own “moral, political, and cultural values.” This concept of Hegemony is then views as “common sense” the “dominant ideology is practiced and spread.” It seems as though there is more wood that is being added to the fire. There is no change, no (water) to help put the fire out…
Karl Marx believed that capitalism would produce conflict, that would eventually lead to a society’s downfall. A Marxist would most likely think the concept of Hegemony is a problem; because Marxist believe in communism. Communism, a socioeconomic structure that consist of no classes. It is solely based on the common ownership of the means of production. In general, Gramsci’s concept of Hegemony describes how the dominant groups holds power, and as a result the other classes accept their values. At this point, a Marxist would identify the issue, almost certainly stating…first there needs to be a society free of class.
After reading the Marxist readings, particularly “Rudolph’s Shiny New Economy”, one is able to determine the most useful technique. Which is the author’s skilled way of describing how class structure is introduced through television shows that most Americans view as harmless towards children. One example would be “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The story reaches its climax when Rudolph attempts to socialize with the other reindeer, yet is rejected due to his shiny red nose; which is extremely bizarre to the other reindeer. This reading has to do with literature, because it shows how different “ranks of society” existed. Rudolph desired to fit in, and participate in the “jockish activities of head butting and other forms of male bonding.” The least useful in this particular story, are the struggles that characters often encounter to be accepted, sometimes it seems that the characters will do just about anything to avoid being eccentric.