.Althusser, Louis. "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes Toward an.
Investigation)". Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays. Trans. Ben Brewster. New
York: Monthly Review, 1971. 127-186.
Althusser's main concept is that of "interpellation" or the "hailing of the subject" which is the process through which individuals are formed as subjects by powerful forces working in the interest of the prevailing ideology of a given society. For Althusser, our attitudes form us rather than being formed by us, and "the category of the subject is only constitutive of all ideology insofar as all ideology has the function (which defines it) of 'constituting' concrete individuals as subjects" (171).
According to Althusser, the process of interpellation allows the existing power structure to maintain its control over the general population without using violence or force. This process occurs in subtle-word ways through what Althusser calls "Ideological State Apparatuses," including official culture and such institutions as churches and schools; however, the physical force represented by the “Repressive State Apparatus” of the police and the military backs it up. He sees ideology as a shaping factor in the development of an individual identity. Ideology can be an illusion that hides the truth of social practices and the material context within which these practices are carried out. His goal is to understand and delineate the workings of ideology so that the individual subjects can interact with ideology in more critical and productive ways.
For Althusser, there is a distinction between state power and state control. The power is maintained by repressive structures such as law courts, prisons, police forces, and the army, which all usually operate by external force. The power of the state is maintained subtly by seeming to secure the internal consent of its citizens, using what Althusser calls ideological state apparatuses such as political parties, schools, the media, churches, the family, and art (including literature.) These groupings foster an ideology, a set of ideas and attitudes, which is agreeable to the aims of the state and the political status quo. These beliefs enable the citizen to feel the idea of freedom of choice even when the choice is being imposed on the citizen. Using Althusser's idea of interpellation, democracy makes the citizen feel he has a choice in the kind of government he has. The practice demonstrates that differences between political parties, once in power, are far fewer than the rhetorical differences between them. Any ideological power is more significant than material power.
The most dominant position of an ideological state apparatus in a capitalist social function, in Althusser's view, is the educational apparatus. The result of all state apparatuses is the reproduction of the methods of production, and each contributes in a way that is proper to it. Each apparatus has a dominant theme of interest such as nationalism, morality, and economics. The ideology illustrates the interpolation of individuals as subjects, the mutual recognition of each other, and finally the subject's recognition of himself, and the guarantee that everything really is so and the apparatus functions as long as the subjects recognize what they are and behave accordingly (181). The Ideological State Apparatuses represent the form in which the ideology of the ruling class must be realized. The ideologies originate from the social classes caught in the class struggle and the conditions of existence, their practices, and their experiences in the struggle (186).
Althusser contrasts ideology (knowledge thoroughly conditioned by politics) with science (direct objective knowledge). The opposition of these two terms causes a special emphasis on culture and literature, which is located between the poles of science and ideology. According to Althusser, the workings of ideology can be detected in art in ways that they cannot in society at large since art is independent from economic forces.
Investigation)". Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays. Trans. Ben Brewster. New
York: Monthly Review, 1971. 127-186.
Althusser's main concept is that of "interpellation" or the "hailing of the subject" which is the process through which individuals are formed as subjects by powerful forces working in the interest of the prevailing ideology of a given society. For Althusser, our attitudes form us rather than being formed by us, and "the category of the subject is only constitutive of all ideology insofar as all ideology has the function (which defines it) of 'constituting' concrete individuals as subjects" (171).
According to Althusser, the process of interpellation allows the existing power structure to maintain its control over the general population without using violence or force. This process occurs in subtle-word ways through what Althusser calls "Ideological State Apparatuses," including official culture and such institutions as churches and schools; however, the physical force represented by the “Repressive State Apparatus” of the police and the military backs it up. He sees ideology as a shaping factor in the development of an individual identity. Ideology can be an illusion that hides the truth of social practices and the material context within which these practices are carried out. His goal is to understand and delineate the workings of ideology so that the individual subjects can interact with ideology in more critical and productive ways.
For Althusser, there is a distinction between state power and state control. The power is maintained by repressive structures such as law courts, prisons, police forces, and the army, which all usually operate by external force. The power of the state is maintained subtly by seeming to secure the internal consent of its citizens, using what Althusser calls ideological state apparatuses such as political parties, schools, the media, churches, the family, and art (including literature.) These groupings foster an ideology, a set of ideas and attitudes, which is agreeable to the aims of the state and the political status quo. These beliefs enable the citizen to feel the idea of freedom of choice even when the choice is being imposed on the citizen. Using Althusser's idea of interpellation, democracy makes the citizen feel he has a choice in the kind of government he has. The practice demonstrates that differences between political parties, once in power, are far fewer than the rhetorical differences between them. Any ideological power is more significant than material power.
The most dominant position of an ideological state apparatus in a capitalist social function, in Althusser's view, is the educational apparatus. The result of all state apparatuses is the reproduction of the methods of production, and each contributes in a way that is proper to it. Each apparatus has a dominant theme of interest such as nationalism, morality, and economics. The ideology illustrates the interpolation of individuals as subjects, the mutual recognition of each other, and finally the subject's recognition of himself, and the guarantee that everything really is so and the apparatus functions as long as the subjects recognize what they are and behave accordingly (181). The Ideological State Apparatuses represent the form in which the ideology of the ruling class must be realized. The ideologies originate from the social classes caught in the class struggle and the conditions of existence, their practices, and their experiences in the struggle (186).
Althusser contrasts ideology (knowledge thoroughly conditioned by politics) with science (direct objective knowledge). The opposition of these two terms causes a special emphasis on culture and literature, which is located between the poles of science and ideology. According to Althusser, the workings of ideology can be detected in art in ways that they cannot in society at large since art is independent from economic forces.
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