Theory of Panopticon Theory of Marxism
imposed on individuals to persuade them that there is no real contradiction between capital and labor or, more crudely, between the interest of the working
class and ruling class. In Modern Literary Theory, he states that “it is, rather, a
matter of the representation of imaginary version of the real social relations that people live. These imaginary versions of the real social relations are necessary for
the perpetuation of the capitalist system” 1977: 51. Ideology does not establish itself simply through consciousness nor
through disembodied ideas but through systems and structure. Ideology is presented in the representations the signs and the practices the rituals of
everyday life. Most importantly, it is through ideology that individuals are constituted as „subjects‟ – misrecognizing themselves as free and independent
beings with unique subjectivities. Ideology needs agent to reproduce itself in the society. The main agencies for the reproduction of ideology and the subject are
what Althusser calls the „Ideological State Apparatuses‟ ISAs. It is a certain number of realities which present themselves to the immediate observer in the
form of distinct and specialized institutions. It is included, religion, education, family, laws, politic, trade union, communications and culture.
This system is closely related to Interpellation. It is a trick invented by Althusser where we are made to think that we can choose while we actually have
no choice at all Barry, 2000: 165. According to Althusser on Pe ter Barry‟s book,
this trick is used in capitalist society to make us feel like free agents „You can
have any color you like…‟ while actually imposing things upon us „…as long as it‟s black‟. Barry adds, “Interpellation is Althusser‟s term for the way the
individual is encouraged to see herself or himself as an entity free and indepe
ndent of social forces” 2002: 165. As for hegemony, a term given by the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci
1891-1934. Quoting Williams, Barry defines h egemony as „the whole lived
social process as practically organized by specific and dominant meanings, values and beliefs of a kind which can be abstracted as a “world view” or “class outlook”
2002: 164. In other words, hegemony is a kind of ideology that is dominant and able to influence the people without being forced. When this kind of system is
applied in the society, people will feel like they have freedom where they actually don‟t. In the Beginning Theory, William relates Hegemony to culture in general
and ideology in particular. Hegemony is like a form of social control that has been internalized a
nd can make certain views seem “natural” or visible so that they hardly seem like views at
all, „just the way things are‟ Barry, 2002: 164-165. Ever since this term is relatively connected to the concept of ideology, it can also
be seen as the element of interpellation. Hegemony and ideology can be used to see how far the interpellation is applied in certain society.