.

MCS 001: Spring 2019

Essay Prompt:

Examine the film September Issue to address how ruling classes’ ideas become the ruling ideas.

1. In your answer first address how Marx and Engels elaborate how ruling classes ideas dominate.

2. Then draw on Raymond Williams, Guy Debord, and Robert McChesney to elaborate how ruling classes’ ideas become ruling ideas and how these ideas in turn support elite control of the economy.

3. Explain the role of advertising, its position as a spectacle and as a magic system, and then focus on how these aspects are highlighted in the film September Issue.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines:

• No late submissions except in the case of documented medical or family emergency.

• Double-spaced • 600-700 words, not including name, title, or any other information in the heading • Submit papers as Word documents or PDF files only!

o Pages documents are incompatible with iLearn. o (If you use Google docs, please download as PDF or I can’t use iLearn’s

editing feature) • Use in-text citations, footnotes, or endnotes. Any formatting style (MLA,

Chicago, APA, etc.) is acceptable, as long as you use it consistently and correctly. • Cite the author and page number for every reading • Use formal in-text citations to cite the film September Issue • No works cited page or bibliography page required • Do not use outside sources • You may use Bagdikian and/or Herman and Chomsky IN ADDITION to (NOT

instead of) the film and readings listed above • Answer every part of the prompt!