Comments on: My Ideology http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/ Failing better at understanding the past Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:50:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/comment-page-1/#comment-14384 Gavin Robinson Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:55:51 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/?p=671#comment-14384 And Clifford Geertz said that ideology is a system of beliefs that creates its own reality, which I also like. I could write a whole post about how culture and ideology influence reality. And Clifford Geertz said that ideology is a system of beliefs that creates its own reality, which I also like. I could write a whole post about how culture and ideology influence reality.

]]> By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/comment-page-1/#comment-14383 Gavin Robinson Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:02:45 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/?p=671#comment-14383 That's a good one too. But now I'm wondering if there's anything we "know" which doesn't have any implications for power. You're definitely right that there isn't just one power structure. That’s a good one too. But now I’m wondering if there’s anything we “know” which doesn’t have any implications for power. You’re definitely right that there isn’t just one power structure.

]]> By: Gavin Burrows http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/comment-page-1/#comment-14382 Gavin Burrows Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:47:23 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/?p=671#comment-14382 Zizek defined ideology as "unknown knowns. The problem with ideology is not that it is a falsehood of which we might be persuaded, but because it is a truth that we already accept without knowing it." I prefer that definition to Eagelton's, which makes "the power-structure" sound too singular and monolithic. Good point, though, about recognising an ideology and still being inside it. It's like having the flu, at first you simply feel weird, then you finally decide it must be the flu. But knowing it and having a cure for it are two different things. Zizek defined ideology as “unknown knowns. The problem with ideology is not that it is a falsehood of which we might be persuaded, but because it is a truth that we already accept without knowing it.”

I prefer that definition to Eagelton’s, which makes “the power-structure” sound too singular and monolithic.

Good point, though, about recognising an ideology and still being inside it. It’s like having the flu, at first you simply feel weird, then you finally decide it must be the flu. But knowing it and having a cure for it are two different things.

]]> By: Gavin Robinson http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/comment-page-1/#comment-14381 Gavin Robinson Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:43:07 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/?p=671#comment-14381 That's a great definition - it could have saved me a lot of typing! I've been thinking more about unquestioned assumptions. They're often a feature of ideology, but they're not really a defining characteristic. It's possible to be dominated by ideology even if you can see exactly what's happening and don't want it to. I know that I'm reinforcing the gender system whenever I get dressed, have a haircut, use a public toilet etc. but I'm not strong enough to overcome it. Then there's ideology that doesn't happen by default. Feminism is an ideology by pretty much any definition (although a good one that makes a positive difference) but I doubt that very many people grow up feminist by default without thinking about it. It's definitely something that I have to work very hard at. That’s a great definition – it could have saved me a lot of typing!

I’ve been thinking more about unquestioned assumptions. They’re often a feature of ideology, but they’re not really a defining characteristic. It’s possible to be dominated by ideology even if you can see exactly what’s happening and don’t want it to. I know that I’m reinforcing the gender system whenever I get dressed, have a haircut, use a public toilet etc. but I’m not strong enough to overcome it. Then there’s ideology that doesn’t happen by default. Feminism is an ideology by pretty much any definition (although a good one that makes a positive difference) but I doubt that very many people grow up feminist by default without thinking about it. It’s definitely something that I have to work very hard at.

]]> By: Ian MacInnes http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/2009/09/03/my-ideology/comment-page-1/#comment-14379 Ian MacInnes Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:23:49 +0000 http://www.investigations.4-lom.com/?p=671#comment-14379 I've always liked Terry Eagleton's short and sweet definition of ideology as "the ways in which what we say and believe connects with the power-structure and power-relations of the society we live in" (in _Literary Theory_). What I tell my students is that a particular discourse/attitude/etc. is ideological if one's behavior in regards to it can make one rich or poor, free or emprisoned, employed or unemployed, accepted or rejected, etc. It follows from this that there are certainly parts of culture that are NOT ideological. But gender (in every society I know of) is certainly ideological (though ideologies of gender vary quite a bit). I’ve always liked Terry Eagleton’s short and sweet definition of ideology as “the ways in which what we say and believe connects with the power-structure and power-relations of the society we live in” (in _Literary Theory_).
What I tell my students is that a particular discourse/attitude/etc. is ideological if one’s behavior in regards to it can make one rich or poor, free or emprisoned, employed or unemployed, accepted or rejected, etc. It follows from this that there are certainly parts of culture that are NOT ideological. But gender (in every society I know of) is certainly ideological (though ideologies of gender vary quite a bit).

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