Hegemony

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/hegemony.html

We all live in a society where there is some form of power structure. In many societies we are governed by the government or some shape of hierarchy. Whether it is corporations, companies or the wealthy are generally those who hold greater power than people of a lower socio economic status. Hegemony is another form Antonio Gramsci coined as cultural figure of power or leadership.

Hegemony is an intellectual and moral leadership that takes into account the interests and tendencies of the groups which hegemony is exercised through compromises that may benefit or ultimately threaten the role of the dominant group (Brock, 357.) Hegemony in the twentieth century is now referred to as cultural hegemony because it is more sociological and is now caused by the manipulation of a particular social class dominating another in society.

Hegemony can be exemplified as a power system. Every day practices display that we hold governments in authority and they have power over our societies in power. Examples of this would be rising and removing hats when the national anthem is playing or the law to pay ones taxes. Many everyday practices are great examples of how we hold corporations and the government in power. A main example of this would be shopping at chain clothing stores. During our class presentation by the journalist he uses examples about how power effects the media and the people, corporations, and large companies, this is present because the larger the resources the more leadership and power they will have over the proletariat. Media and power are closely related because the dominate class is shown to be the social norm and what many people in society strive to become one day. Furthermore, the media helps this theory to become evident when many hegemonic discourses are displayed over the internet, television shows, and in the newspapers. The journalist used Middle Eastern people as an example of cultural hegemonic discourse that is displayed in the media and how it affects the way we look at things based on what the government or people of authority assume about that particular person or culture. Automatically you assume negative thoughts about this culture because of the 911 booming in 2000. Moreover I will discuss the ways in which Hegemony is displayed in Canadian society.

Native Canadians all over the country are a great example of cultural hegemony. Natives are governed by the authority of the government and receive many benefits such as no taxes and living on reserves as a benefit because we took over there land many years ago. This in ways Benefits them but also puts us at risk, because by putting them on reserves away from us, takes away from socially by never feeling entirely socially accepted but also harms us by making us pay higher taxes for them to live.

Gramsci in many ways believed the media has always had a large role in teaching people to do things everyday that support power structures. Hegemony is one way in which this theory becomes truth. We all live in a society where there is some form of power structure. In many societies we are governed by the government or some shape of hierarchy. Whether it is corporations, companies or the wealthy are generally those who hold greater power than people of a lower socio economic status. Hegemony is another form Antonio Gramsci coined as cultural figure of power or leadership.

Hegemony is an intellectual and moral leadership that takes into account the interests and tendencies of the groups which hegemony is exercised through compromises that may benefit or ultimately threaten the role of the dominant group (Brock, 357.) Hegemony in the twentieth century is now referred to as cultural hegemony because it is more sociological and is now caused by the manipulation of a particular social class dominating another in society.

Hegemony can be exemplified as a power system. Every day practices display that we hold governments in authority and they have power over our societies in power. Examples of this would be rising and removing hats when the national anthem is playing or the law to pay ones taxes. Many everyday practices are great examples of how we hold corporations and the government in power. A main example of this would be shopping at chain clothing stores. During our class presentation by the journalist he uses examples about how power effects the media and the people, corporations, and large companies, this is present because the larger the resources the more leadership and power they will have over the proletariat. Media and power are closely related because the dominate class is shown to be the social norm and what many people in society strive to become one day. Furthermore, the media helps this theory to become evident when many hegemonic discourses are displayed over the internet, television shows, and in the newspapers. The journalist used Middle Eastern people as an example of cultural hegemonic discourse that is displayed in the media and how it affects the way we look at things based on what the government or people of authority assume about that particular person or culture. Automatically you assume negative thoughts about this culture because of the 911 booming in 2000. Moreover I will discuss the ways in which Hegemony is displayed in Canadian society.

Native Canadians all over the country are a great example of cultural hegemony. Natives are governed by the authority of the government and receive many benefits such as no taxes and living on reserves as a benefit because we took over there land many years ago. This in ways Benefits them but also puts us at risk, because by putting them on reserves away from us, takes away from socially by never feeling entirely socially accepted but also harms us by making us pay higher taxes for them to live.

Gramsci in many ways believed the media has always had a large role in teaching people to do things everyday that support power structures. Hegemony is one way in which this theory becomes truth.