Characteristics Of Vulgar Marxism

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This essay is organised in 3 key parts. The first describes key aspects of liberal-pluralism and Marxism, that are relevant. The second applies these paradigms to the current state of New Zealand 's mainstream print media and its reliance on advertising as a primary revenue stream after digital convergence and looking specifically at the proposed Fairfax - NZME merger. The third, again applies the two paradigms to New Zealand politicians use of the social media platform twitter.
Breakdown and analyse different aspects of each example.
Issues of democracy
Social values
Monopoly
Importance of understanding a variety of differing political economic paradigms.

Prior to engaging with the examples is is necessary to outline the characteristics
Ignores human agency (Berger, 44).

Marxism, can be criticised for dismissing consumer agency when discussing the power of the upper class bourgeoisie. Generally Marxism discusses tools of social control, this essay focus on Marx specifically in relation to media. Marxism is not monolithic. Many do not believe there should be a violent overthrow of the political system in their country. Tool for attacking the bourgeoisie. Berger, 41.
- There is a pressing need for engaging with Marx and the critique of class and capitalism in order to interpret and change the contemporary world and contemporary media (Fuschs and Mosco, 135).
Media are controlled by political-economic elites motivated by profit and power.

Media institutions may be plural but their common interest in profits excludes many forms of content- i.e. erosion of diversity.
Media are powerful ideological tools for the capitalist system and play a key role in the proletariat’s false
Advertising is a controlling force in news media, therefore, to become a bourgeois tool, crucial in the long term goal of selling a political order that facilitates consumer culture (Berger, 55). It becomes a reciprocal relationship, with an extremely well developed advertising industry that enforces consumerism over public good, this emphasis on capital/capitalism increases the separation of socioeconomic class, thus those who view mainstream media are unwitting ‘victims’ of this culture (Berger,

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