July--> Althusser and Marx

From the readings I’ve learned that there are two types of apparatuses in which ideologies function. This existence is considered to be material. The first is the Repressive State Apparatus, also known as the State Apparatus. The Repressive State Apparatus is a forced approach by the Government, Administration, Army, Police, Courts, and Prisons. One example consists of a police officer putting a gun to an individuals head and forcing them to get into the police car. While the second apparatus, The Ideology State Apparatus functions through voluntary. These voluntary approaches form ideas and images that change the people’s minds. An example would be a speech from our president, George Bush, informing our society about an unfamiliar topic. Although, these are basic forms of the apparatuses there are different ways that this ideologies represent reality.

Aspects of the identity derived from the Ideological State Apparatus. For example, ideology works through and in bodies from individuals choosing their gender attire. It is not set in stone that a man can’t wear a dress or a woman can’t wear a suit, but our presumptions of reality eliminates the existence of these acts. Ideologies also play a role in interpellation of a subject. The first thing a newborn is given is a name, which will be with it for eternity. This child was taught to respond to its name since day one of its arrival, which is an example of interpellation. When your teacher asks the class to respond to a question out loud and the class participates, this would also be considered interpellation because the whole was called upon and then responded.

Althusser thoughts can be compared with Barthes. Barthes believes that the things between the lines are sources to understanding the material, while Althusser mentions that one’s ideology is not understood, but understood by the author. In order to interpret an author’s ideas one has to read between the lines (tmesis).