Defining capitalism is a hard task as it has several meanings depending on the contexts used. We have media capitalism, trade capitalism, political capitalism… However, a major characteristic of capitalism, one that unites all, is the domination of private enterprise, ownership and profit-oriented corporations. Capitalism is not solely an economic startegy that organizes the market, it is more of an ideology, excuse for capitalists to dominate and take control of the market. It is a deceitful platform that calls for ultimate freedom when it gives none. The one’s who are in control of the means of production are the only ones that have this freedom since they are the ones making the rules, the economic strategies, the educational, moral system. Of course, the latter are only made if they are in line with their own interests -the elite-; yet, you’ll always seem them calling for humanitarianism. Ironically, this is due to their domination as well on the media, you think that anything that really benefits the people rather than the manifacturing company, gets advertised or aired on TV shows? Consequently, one of the most capitalistic centers today tends to be the communications and media. Those who have the money and the power are the ones that get to the top. Meritocracy is a LIE, and exceptions are the ones that make it. However the system is made to leave the poor, impoverished and the rich, wealthier.
As previously mentioned, there is capitalist communications which also portrays the same concept of domination; however, the elite that control the media tend to be political rulers. Ever since the mid 20th century and the media became more of a realm for the discussion of politics, anything that concerns politics was dominated by journalists and later on in the media. Today, the ruling powers are the mouthing pieces of the media, anything that is against them can be directly shut down or raided by police men. Because this is what Capitalism is: An excuse for the ruling power to manipulate the people and keep them unaware of this manipulation. I’ll leave you with three questions to think about:
When was the last time a major power as the president, the prime minister or the parlimentarians publicly humiliated or exposed?
How much do we know of the deals that happen concerning refugees and war countries?
How is Israel a country and not Palestine?
References:
Fuchs, C. (2016). Introduction, read pp. 1-5 only. In Reading Marx In The Information Age: A Media and Communication Studies Perspective on Capital Volume 1. New York:
Routledge. Retrieved from: http://fuchs.uti.at/wp-content/uploads/introduction.pdf
Artz, L. (2008). Media Relations and Media Product: Audience Commodity (read excerpts). Democratic Communiqué, 22(1): 60–74. Retrieved from: http://journals.fcla.edu/demcom/article/view/76591
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