Readings/Viewings for next week: Please note that I’m giving you a choice between reading from TT or the document that I’m sending to you (scanned from another book). I wanted to give you all a choice, considering that not everyone disliked the Theory Toolbox. Please do read the guide, though — it’s a nice and short summarization of the concept.
- Lye, John. (1997) Ideology: A Brief Guide
- “Ideology,” p. 83-94, TT AND/OR Handout on Ideology from Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice – I’m emailing this document to all of you, so please check your email.
- View: Hitler Speech (English Subtitles) and Martin Luther King “I have a dream” speech
Below are sets of questions. You must choose one of the sets to respond to, but be sure to answer all questions within that set. Please make explicit connections between your thoughts and the readings/discussions. In what ways are your thoughts either informed by or reflect what you are reading?
- Consider both the Hitler and King speeches you viewed on YouTube. Discuss some of the ideologies (or “natural” presuppositions) that you were able to identify as existing within both speeches. In other words, what larger doctrines, myths, beliefs, or ideas are presented (either implicitly or explicitly) within each of these two speeches?
- How is interpellation (p. 44-48 in TT) at work in both Hitler and King’s speeches? How does the interpellation of those within the audience affect their subjectivity?
- Describe, as best you can, the “American” ideology. Be sure to utilize quotes from the text. Does America have one overriding ideology or many dominant ideologies? How do the ideologies fit with the realities? Are (American) ideologies, as the chapter seems to suggest, more myth than reality/truth? Explain.
23 comments
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February 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Nick McKiernan
After I watched the hitler vidoe, i realized that he is a very powerful speaker. The subtitles were hard to read, but from what I could make out of it, Hitler’s ideologies were to make the world classless,rankless, and wanted everyone to portray what he thought was a full fledged german. He wanted people to be peace loving and obedient to the movement that was happening at that time. What I get from this video is that his ideals are so trusted and believed by millions of germans because he gets things done. Even if it takes killing millions of jews and non-germans to get the job done. Hitler was on a rampage of world domination, but with the ideas of keeping the peace and being upright citizens. To me I think yea thats great , why can’t we all get along, without any controversey, or problems? On the other hand if I knew this leader i was hole heartedly supporting was killing innocent people to get his way, i don’t want any part of it. I haven’t seen any speech of that magnitude ever, there must have been 100,000 people listening in person to hitlers speech. WOW
In the MLK “I have a dream” video, The Ideologies I got from him, were that all of america should be free, Not just blacks. I think he said this becuase he believes that americas government is too controling, Or on the other side no controlling enough (especially in the southern states). Another interesting point I got from the speech was that he just like hitler’ encouraged so much from his listeners, and followers to trust him that things will change. The only difference between the two was that hitler did it with violence, and MLK did it with peace. I believe both of the men’s ideas are very similiar which is why it made them such powerful voices in thier times.
One interesting thing that I also noticed was that both MLK and Hitler liked to shout during thier speeches. Im assuming they do this to set the mood of what they are speaking about, however I get the feeling they do this to show power, that they are both strong men that don’t let anything get in their paths.
February 26, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Erik Vogt
It’s fun to watch the Hitler and King speeches together since both were such excellent public speakers with messages that out of context sound similar yet they were going in exact opposite directions. In regards to the context and ideologies each have, Hitler got lots of his popularity by speaking to what people wanted. Germany had been in a crushing economic collapse and had been completely embarrassed and dominated after the first World War, Hitler was telling people that Germany could be great again, be a world power, be prosperous, and have all proud Germans be rewarded. It sounds good, and Hitler did a lot of those things, they had tons of new jobs, infrastructure, people were being united. The problem is that the reason they were united is that if you didn’t agree you got the crap kicked out of you by the SS and all the jobs were in factories making tanks and guns. King had a message of unity also, except he actually meant it. Thanks to Black History Month specials I don’t have to explain his context. King was after a world where people could all work as a community in love and prosper without violence and hate. Both of them used the same persuasions, the same promises, but what they actually wanted was vastly different. King truly wanted freedom for all people, while Hitler only wanted freedom for himself and those who would follow him without question.
February 26, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Corey G.
American Ideologies
When I first think of “American Ideologies” I picture the American dream, with the nice house, a spouse, a few kids, a dog and a white picket fence. I think of America and the idea of freedom, the idea of democracy, and social norms. But then thinking about the American dream of the picket fence and the dog and very few people have the perfect American Life. In reality there are broken homes, poverty, and pounds for the pets. The idea a freedom is kind of there but in America we still have laws with punishments. Were not free to go 120 mph down a residential street. Democracy is seen as the only form of government that is the “best”. Social norms like college, love and relationships, religion, entertainment all point to different things as being reality and right. What is the truth and what is real? Are they “telling you the truth rather that some misty soup of delusionary ideas”?
February 26, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Janet P.
I believe that almost any particular idea can represent the “American ideology”. Although there seem to be a few dominant ideologies, such as the so called idea of the “American dream” being happily married with 2.4 kids, a dog, and a white picket fence, etc. (mentioned earlier by Corey), the line tends to blur between what American ideologies represent, and what it actually means to agree with that ideology. There is an overall understanding/connection within a community which in a way sets specific standards. I, for example, do not believe that the “American dream” has anything to do with being married with children or being well off, but society has set the standards to which we are unconsciously expected to abide by. As stated in the Toolbox Theory, “For a culture to produce ideas there has to be some consensus on what the present material conditions mean, a kind of common agreement about the way things are.” Whether we like to admit it or not, we are faced with ideologies everyday. It is our job to identify these ideologies and then analyze them to determine the reality of the issue. American ideologies may sometimes appear to be based more upon myth than fiction. For example, Althusser states that ideology is “a representation of the imaginary relation of individuals to the real condition of existence.” His perspective on things further strengthens the assumption that ideologies are merely based upon what we think they are rather than what they entail in reality.
February 26, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Corbin Baran
Both speeches were extremely powerful while sharing opposing ideologies. The Hitler speech came across as the more fierce and shocking one because it was amazing to see how many people followed him. However his speech only presented an early stage of Hitler’s harsh ideologies. The speech showed how he began to gain power before he abused it. He mentioned that his nation should be obedient and peace loving, while also being “hard not soft.” If i had viewed this video without ever being educated about his reputation, then i would judge him as one who believed in no ranks or classes, who was prowar and wanted his country, along with the world, to a part of one culture.
The Martin Luther King speech was more passionate and well-minded. He made his beliefs clear and more personal- while standing up for an entire race. Martin Luther King presented the idea of actually following the fact that all men are created equal, and that African Americans deserve the same amount of freedom and opportunities as Caucasians, or for that matter everyone else in the world. His speech also eventually developed the American ideology into some truth, which is the belief that we are the land of the free. In order for that ideology to be true, all men and women need to be treated exactly the same. With that said, are all men and women truly treated equal today in America?
February 26, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Kristin F.
In the “Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice” I can’t tell you how many times I read the words, “ideology is lived experience.” This repetitive statement made all the other confusing points, this reading was trying to throw at you, and made it a little more simplistic. I can relate to ideology if it’s a lived experience because all of us in some way have gone through life experiencing challenges, changes, and just life in general. That’s why I don’t think it’s fair to say that there is an “American Ideology” because Americans are all full of different ideologies. Now in my opinion, MLK’s “I have a dream” speech spoke of one out of the many ideologies that Americans needed at this time and the same applies to Hitler’s speech. Going back to the Theory and Practice reading it states, “Ideology (Althusser agues) is a far more effective means for the maintenance of class power than physical force.” Both of these two men knew exactly what they were doing, they were targeting the subjects (the people) and telling them what they wanted to hear. (Not saying it’s not what they believed, because obviously they did). At this time both the Germans and African American needed hope and inspiration and these two men delivered it through their speeches in speaking about their ideology for the future. Hitler spoke of a no rank, classless system, speaking directly to the youth in being peace loving and obedient. While MLK screams out “Let freedom ring” and his dream that one-day blacks and white will be unified. The difference inevitably was the results of the two speeches. MLK acted in a peaceful way, while we all are aware of how Hitler did everything and anything to obtain his “dream.” Both of these men were powerful, we can all hear it in their voices during their speeches. I’m not sure if I believe, that “Ideologies are not false,” like the handout stated more than once. In my open opinion, some can be true and some can be false, but like I said above, we all live different experiences so who is to say if one ideology is false and the other is true? Now that is something to think about, and that is why the 12 pages of Questions of culture and ideology was so hard for me to read.
February 26, 2008 at 9:44 pm
eddie R
Ideologies
well
from that handout . . it became clear to me that ideologies are an intangible being, an entity that is crutial to society. one that arises out of the common beliefs of man.
it seems, though, that democracy is getting a bit of an unfair advantage.
i believe the idea of democracy (everyone’s voice being heard, everyone having an opinion to be shared) is the illusion that everyone in america buys into. we all hope for and want and sometimes believe we live in a democracy where everyone’s voice is equally heard and appreciated. however, i believe the ideology of democracy in the context of a nation controlled by few is a farce.
also, i believe there are far greater ideologies that man can aspire to. some may not seem feasible, however.
the idea of a utopia has been sought after for centuries. communism, in its purest and most hypothetical form, benefits all equally and creates a symbiotic balance between man and his neighbor. i do not believe democracy is the pinnacle of man’s attempt to organize himself. however, i am not a communist. or a socialist. merely a human.
the MLK vs. Hitler videos were, i think, after the same ends. just incorporating different means.
They both preached equality and balance, yet both stood for it in very different ways. Hitler’s speech was geared more towards the purity of the world through the (ultimately) extermination of every other ethnicity. MLK preached peace through acceptance.
what i find interesting is how they approached the word ‘unity’ and the context they chose to place it in.
Hitler preached unity in blood, faith, etc., but ultimately unity in ‘being a german’
MLK preached unity on a scale far more vast — unity as a human race.
i do not believe one speech was better than the other, because both speeches achieved what they set out to — or, at least in hitler’s case, achieved a hell of a lot (all though not fully what he wanted). both speeches were passionate and well-spoken.
i believe the shared ‘american ideology’ is the notion of ‘having it easy’ — at least today.
it is drilled through television, cinema, and other facets of society that we ultimately have a chance (and the right) to look beautiful and become popular. that someday, IT will happen to US. whatever ‘it’ is, and whoever ‘we’ chose to be.
February 26, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Nick R.
American ideology is the idea that anybody can make or do anything they want. They have to freedom to make themselves rich or be happy with working a mediocre job or do whatever they want. Karl Marx said “cultures are structured in ways that enable the group holding power to have the maximum control with the minimum of conflict.” and also “how the dominant institutions in society work through values, conceptions of the world, and symbol systems, in order to legitimize the current order.” I think the way America is set up, and the idea that you can make your own way in life in this country. But there is the government in place for a reason. Even though they aren’t as involved in our lives daily as say a communist country, our government does still make an impact in our lives whether we like it or not. We are also the most powerful richest country in the world so I think we are looked up to and in the opposition hated for it but I feel like we as Americans are brought up with the idea that we are better than other countries to a certain extent and I think it’s good.
February 26, 2008 at 10:49 pm
James G.
“Ideology is that group of intertwining beliefs that make possible certain kinds of cultural consensus or knowledge, but precisely because it is everywhere and nowhere, ideology tends to disappear- so to speak- ‘into’ the things that make it possible”
I am in agreement with nick. The stereotypical American ideology is in fact the idea that anyone can do anything they like. It is after all what drew so many people to this country in the first place. Being the melting pot we are however, America has many different ideologies. Of course the dominant one and the one which our government acknowledges is the capitalist ideology. Thus, the majority or Americans believe in an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations. However dominant this system in place is, there still exists both communist and socialist ideologies which flow freely in our society (such was not the case a decades ago). Capitalism seems to have created a false reality that now serges through our closely networked lives. We demand such overly material goods in such large quantities that serve no purpose to our human necessity other than to facilitate our wants. It has something the world has never seen before in such magnitude. Thus I believe this “American Ideology” the majority have is more myth, yet perceived as reality.
February 27, 2008 at 12:15 am
Evan Davis
After watching the clips of Hitler and MLK again, I believe that the two of them were very great and influential public speakers. The way they pause and let their audience take in what they’re saying is very helpful when listening. The two of them list the ideologies that they have for their country and state them with power. Hitler’s ideas and beliefs are very blunt. On the other hand MLK delivers speeches with more meaning, and that are more factual. The ideology of America is that if you work hard you can pretty much get anything. The ideology of Hitler is that if you are obedient but at the same time courageous, you are living up to the German standard. But Hitler’s courageousness involves unlawful death and pain, which isn’t courageous at all. MLK’s idea of ideology is the ideology that we should all live today. That we are all equal and all should be presented with the same opportunities no matter what race or religious background we are. The American culture has become much more civil and just today thanks to people like MLK who have pave the way for correct ideologies to form in America.
February 27, 2008 at 12:49 am
Mike Kosciesza
Adolf Hitler and Martin L. King Jr. were two greatly known leaders of the modern times. They both represented something that would one day change the world in many ways. The Hitler speech was a lot more intense then the “I had a dream” speech. He furiously waved his hands around, had a deep angry tone of voice, and stood in front of hundreds of young german boys that would one day have to die for their country but be remembered as true germans. Martin Luther King Jr. had a much more calm tone of voice. He spoke on behalf of all African American people unlike Hitler who spoke on behalf of himself. He reached out to not only blacks but also to whites to make people understand all people must respect and appreciate each other and live peacefully with one another. Their ideology is very different from each other but they both want one common goal: To unite either by country, race, morals, or beliefs.
February 27, 2008 at 1:02 am
Victoria T.
After watching the Martin Luther King Jr. speech, I came to the conclusion that his common social language is equality of colored people. Interpellation is used when he points out Negroes, he is calling to all Negroes and they listen because they are there, and they instantly become subjects. He identifies himself as separate from other individuals by using this language, and Interpellation of those within the audience identify themselves with what he is saying by him using the language of equality to draw them in, and they become subjects to him.
In the Hitler speech, interpellation is at work by him using nationalism as his common social language to draw people in. For example, he says “boys and girls” and “the youth” which calls out to young people-they pay attention to this and instantly become subjects. I believe there are subjects, however, who are there forcefully, and are subjects of another crowd, which is the crowd that does not agree and are forcefully there.
February 27, 2008 at 1:35 am
Karli Foss
I find it interesting that two points of view can be so different yet so similarly powerful when spoken aloud. Both speeches focus on the future of their nation as well as demand the attention of their audience. Although I found the subtitles rather difficult to read while watching Hitler’s speech, I do believe that I caught the basis of what he was conveying. My understanding of Hitler’s ideology is that all of the people who stood before him were to one day be no longer categorized by class or rank but rather “absorb” all that “they expect of Germans.” He wants the future to represent one GERMAN nation, he wants them to be obedient to what those above them and before them expect. On the other hand, King’s ideology, from what I understand, is that he’d like to create a peaceful future where everyone is free and no one is judged based on skin color. As I hinted at previously, these speeches are very similar. I believe that the only difference may be that Hitler was striving for a nation of unity where everyone is forced to agree and if these people did not agree, action would be taken. King desired also of a nation of unity but based on understanding, equality, acceptance, and freedom through peace. I don’t believe that either one of these landmark speeches would have come across the way in which they did had they been spoken without the emotion that is present in each.
February 27, 2008 at 1:40 am
Justin D
I am American. I am bigger, stronger, smarter, and much wealthier. And so is my God.
They’re are all dominant on their own. Stating “I am (insert one word from sentence above, including God)” says something and are interchangeable.
The ideologies goes against the Declaration of Independence we adopted, “…all men are created equal…” but today there are -isms that separate people.
The American ideology as defined by me (above) as defined by the textbook, defined as, “…false consciousness…” is incorrect. By having that as an idea automatically forces the concept to be wrong. (I hope that wasn’t confusing.) It should go without saying that these aren’t the realities in which we live in.
February 27, 2008 at 2:13 am
Jackie Soto
As I viewed the Hitler and Martin Luther King speech, I saw great differences in both speeches. But I also saw many similarities that I thought were really interesting. Both Hitler and King were great speakers with such a way to convince their followers and listeners. Hitler was obviously a very dangerous leader of Germany that killed and tortured poor innocent people to get full power of all the nations. He was willing to do whatever possible in him, to take full control. On the other hand, King was NOT dangerous, and was fighting for a good cause. The freedom and equality of Blacks in America. Both speakers however did feel in their own way that what they were fighting for what was RIGHT for the people, and what was BEST for the people, and in an unusual way, that is what they had in common. They both wanted POWER over a certain cause. And the concept of ideology is most generally associated with POWER relations, which is exercised in every relationship, group, and social practice. Both of these men were dedicated to convince their people of what they most firmly believed in. Hitler was greatly emphasizing in his speech how the youth was the future of Germany and how the youth would live on to carry his practice of communism as the leader of the Nazi party. Hitler and King both represented the ideology theory in their speeches. They both appeared to be natural in their beliefs. They both appeared to be logical in their conclusions to a historical development. And they also assumed that now that this (natural) state of affairs has been reached, things will be eternal. And that is why great ideologies appear to be existing within both speeches.
February 27, 2008 at 8:24 am
Stephanie V.
I believe that America was founded on a particular ideology, and that ideology still prevails to some extent today. This ideology, as many before have said, is embodied by The American Dream — in short: equality of opportunity. As with any ideology, this one has the problem of “scope” and “truth.” The American Dream ideology is not the only ideology represented in the United States, but because this tends to be the common ideology among the dominant groups, this is the prevailing ideology and all other ideologies held by the subordinate groups tend to get overlooked. Further, this ideology does not represent absolute truth. In our country, there exist many barriers which hinder opportunities, especially for the poor and minorities.
On a different note, I agree with Collins in his assessment that in today’s society, there no longer exists a “common culture.” The closest thing we have to a common culture is a common consumer-based culture.
February 27, 2008 at 9:02 am
Julia Vilk
After watcing both Hiltler’s and MLK’s videos I realized that though very different their ideologies are very much alike, they are both fighting for their people and both want to dominate and win and prove something. Hilter wants the German people to stand strong and succeed, making them the dominant culture, and is willing to go to whatever lengths to achieve that, even if it involved killing milliions of people. MLK also wanted to prove something and have his people succeed by giving a very powerful and inspiring speech. Though I dont think he wanted to rule and have all the power and for his people to be the best. He just wanted a fair role in society and wanted to be equal. That is how their ideologies are different. Also Hilter was much more aggressve and violent, while MLK stood for peace and not fighting back but making change in peace, but over all both of tbeir ideologies where to make change and enpower their own people.
I actually believe today we might still have the same ideology, people are still trying to keep the steoreotype of America being the richest and best country that everyone wants to move to, and how Amercia is seen as this great place and country for opportunity. And I believe that, that is still today’s ideology for America.
February 27, 2008 at 10:01 am
Lyndsie Klott
I have seen both videos numerous amounts of times, and yet this was the first time I had ideology in mind while watching them. In the past I always used to just think about what had happened in germany because of hilter or what was going on with black rights during the time period of MLK’s speech. After reading about ideology in TT, i started to listen to th actual words and idea’s that both MLK and Hilter were saying. “..to be an ‘ideologist’ was to be someone with his or her head in the clouds, trying to delude or persuade people with mere ideas rather than hard realities.”(p.83) Hilter believed that ridding the Jews and housing them/killing them like animals would restore unity in germany. Realistically speaking, getting rid of one group of people is not going to unify an entire country. Although his ideas were out there and almost impossibly to comprehend present day, there was still a large number of people who followed his order’s and agreed with his beliefs. “Ideology leads you to accept each day as a natural fact: Things are the way they are; case closed.” (p.90) Hilter’s followers, and the nazi’s, rarely if ever questioned his orders or his morals/values because it was easier to just except things the way they were, for that was what they had been taught.
I look at MLK’s speech differently. His speech is titled, “I have a dream…”, which signifys from the get go that its a far stretched idea, yet he takes all his points and ideas seriously. At the time where white rights and black rights were not equal, he kept his head in the “clouds” and preeched all he could about a place and time in his ideal future where rights were equal among people of America.
Ideology can be positive, like MLK’s speech, or they can be overpowering and have horrible results, almost to the point of brainwashing, like Hilter and the Nazi regime.
February 27, 2008 at 11:17 am
Erica Ayala
The beliefs and ideas of Americans revolve around, education, money, property and marriage. “America” Ideologies have evolved however my idea of what the actual “being” of an America ideology is that of power. In our reading of Ideology there were many interesting statements surrounding the ‘ideological state apparatuses’: “For Althusser, education transmits a general ruling- class ideology that justifies and legitimate capitalism. It also reproduces the attitudes and behavior required by major class groups… Ideology teaches workers to accept and submit to their own exploitation while teaching managers to practice the craft of ruling…the dominant class.” The orders of ISA were: Family, education system, church, and mass media. If organizations were to view different ideologies in our society (American) then they would rank them in the ISA order, however I followed Althusser belief that education has to rank first because education would then spilt our society and place people in different social structures. I am not sure if I completely understood the main idea of ISA but in my eyes it did depict the main ideologies of the “American” ideology. Family, education, church and mass media all put are related to power, money and property. If ideology gives us a sense of identity, by combing our ideas, beliefs, and our own being then we as a society have to subject and be subjected in that way. The job you have, the family you came from and/or your education give us interpellations of us as individuals. *Ideology interperllates individuals as subjects.*
February 27, 2008 at 11:20 am
Meghan M
It took me a while to figure out how to phrase this without sounding like a political nut, so if I cross the line, please forgive me. I find most ideas surounding American ideology to be myth. The two ideas that seem to be coming up on the blog are the white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a 401K plan vision and the idea that you have the freedom to decide your own cultural status. These seem like great ideas and they’re very appealing. Marx’s criteria of ideology is that it must seem natural (we’re taught these things growing up and they seem likes facts,) that it must have a basis in history (these ideas were created as a response to other’s experiences in history along the line,) and that they must be maintained (which they are, because people are living them out and passing them on to future generations.) So why are these myth? Because I see the real American dream as being capitalism. Why do we want these things in the first place? Why is being rich and having SO much portrayed in a positive light? We’re taught that it’s good to have money and its bad to be poor. Of course, this is true because our society revolves around money and it tends to equal opportunity, which leads me back to capitalism being the real American ideology. All of the hegemony we’re exposed to supports this, especially cultural things. Everything we do is controlled by money, even our basic needs. What if food and shelter were free? They’re essential to survial and existance, so why should they have a price on them? Once you start to think about it, it starts to seem pretty ridiculous that peices of paper that don’t really mean anything are deciding whether people live or die.
February 27, 2008 at 11:28 am
Shannon
The American ideology is based on individualism, freedom, equal opportunities, and competition- specifically capitalism, and the myth of free enterprise. In reality, we have limited powers, where the working class is subject to the laws and ideologies of the few in power. However, “we accept the idea that we are free to sell labor, and that we get a fair price for it, since this is the way the social world appears to us.” The success of capitalism has been achieved through the mystification of power that appears to be legitimate, but is very complex, and out of reach for the bourgeoisie. (By remaining vague, they avoid direct public skepticism/challenge on issues with capitalism.)
Ideologies are often false realities, for example, we preach that children are the future, and our political system is always focused on an “act now” approach to protecting the future of our nation. However, the United States’ infant mortality rate is higher than all other industrialized countries, and homicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children ages 1-14. American school systems do not compare to other industrialized nations, and children have the highest poverty rates in America. The American ideology is based on societal values, beliefs and norms, but our behavior is quite different in this case. Ideologies seem to be more of a myth than reality, but this is not to say we should stop placing high value on children.
I agree with Stephanie in that the American ideology is by no means the absolute truth, or the way it is acted out in experience. These opportunity barriers for those outside of dominant power groups are very real, and they are exploited, but in a way to avoid direct conflict between the elite and working class. There is this idea of free enterprise, but the government control is prevalent. The government is undoubtedly highly concerned with the capitalism ideology, as James mentioned, and it has gotten out of hand with our excessive wants for material goods. False realities are everywhere in society. People are trained for professions to become the operators of the capitalist machine, and we don’t often look past our selfishness to see that we have helped create an enormous poverty situation. Even worse, politics hide behind their mystified power and fail to directly acknowledge the real roots of social problems, and thus the domino effect occurs-ultimately making the rich richer, and the poor poorer.
February 27, 2008 at 11:54 am
Catherine M.
Both Hitler and MLK were great public speakers full of conviction. While watching the Hitler video, I found it kind of hard to see past my own problems and views toward him, but I was able to somewhat appreciate what he was trying to do for the people of his country. The subtitles were hard to read, but I did see one part that said something along the lines of wanting to make Germany great for the future of the youth. So I guess you could say he had good ideological intentions, but you know what they say about those…
MLK though spoke powerful about achieving equality through peace. He emphasized not using violence to get the wanted result. His ideology was to make all men equal, as opposed to Hitler who believed in making certain men superior. They each want their nation’s to be whole, to be one. But their ways of going about it are completely different.
February 27, 2008 at 11:57 am
Cara Molitor
Interpellation is very much at work in both speeches. For Hitler he knew what he had to say to his target audiance which was Germany in its entirety. At this point Germany was suffering from a horribly damaged economy and had made many promises to save the people who where struggling from this. This is directly speaking to those people and recruiting them to carry out his ideas of how the world should work. In M.L.K.’s speech “I have a dream” he is directly speaking to the people who were experiencing segregation. His speech was great because it was taking the people who are subject to the occurences of the day and made them feel responsible for what is to happen in the future. That is an example of direct interepellation.