I've got an exam at 3 I've not revised for yet, and it really doesn't look like I'm going to start either. Arrrghhhhhhh
Don't suppose anyone knows the strengths and weaknesses of Althusser's Ideological State Apparatus theory? Thought not... I hate exams.
Louis Althusser's Ideological State Apparatuses Louis Althusser proposed a materialistic conception of ideology, which made use of a special type of discourse: the lacunar discourse. A number of propositions, which are never untrue, suggest a number of other propositions, which are. In this way, the essence of the lacunar discourse is what is not told (but is suggested). For example, the statement "All are equal before the law," which is a theoretical groundwork of current legal systems, suggests that all people may be of equal worth or have equal "opportunities". This is not true, for the concept of private property and power over the means of production results in some people being able to own more (much more) than others. This power disparity contradicts the claim that all share both practical worth and future opportunity equally; for example, the rich can afford better legal representation, which practically privileges them before the law. Althusser also proffered the concept of the Ideological State Apparatus to explain his theory of ideology. His first thesis was "ideology has no history": while individual ideologies have histories, interleaved with the general class struggle of society, the general form of ideology is external to history. His second thesis, "Ideas are material", explains his materialistic attitude, which he illustrates with the "scandalous advice" of Pascal toward unbelievers: "kneel and pray, and then you will believe". For Althusser, beliefs and ideas are the products of social practices, not the reverse. What is ultimately important for Althusser are not the subjective beliefs held in the "minds" of human individuals, but rather the material institutions, rituals, and discourses that produce these beliefs. Just write that and you'll be fine .
Ha, cheers. Just skimmed it, there's a one or two I can use in there, if I remember haha. The problem is that I've gotta analyse a passage from Althusser and I don't know the passage yet! I can blag it, it'll be fine. A lot of bullshitting will happen I'm afraid! It's a load of bollocks to be fair, I don't really agree with a lot of it. I hate exams...
Wikipedia was a big help when I was at Uni. As for stuff like that, I'm sure it's best to just blag it! Surely you can interpret stuff like that in a million different ways. My course at Uni involved computer programming, so you could fail your degree by putting a comma in the wrong place .
Aye, I've practically just gotta bullshit. But it's more difficult to bullshit actual bullshit! That's what I see it as Ha, that sucks. Some tutors can be the same when it comes to referencing our work though! I failed one piece of work last year because I referenced it slightly wrong, and it was like my first piece of work! The stupid bitch. Anyway, exam's at 3 so gotta dash. See y'all tonight!
That could work out well for me actually if I can stop off at Newcastle on my way back home and go to the match.
