Consciousness And Ideology Analysis

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In her article, Consciousness and Ideology, Patricia Ewick attempts to explain the definition of ideology and its relationship with consciousness (2004). Ewick claims that ideology as a concept is complex and should be viewed as a process (p. 80). Consciousness is how people think (p.81). She also claims that the relationship between ideology and consciousness has changed over the centuries, and although these two concepts currently appear similar to one another, there is an important difference that complicates their bond: the role of power (p.81). I agree with Ewick’s claim that ideology is complex; it is not one system of ideas that strictly determines how people think (p. 80). Ideology cannot simply be a system of ideas that impacts …show more content…
86-91). Ewick explains how these modes serve power. Ewick demonstrates legitimation by using the example of statistics; “[s]tatistics-whether crime rates or opinion polls […] appear to ground free floating and controversial impressions in the hard […]. Both the media and the public have enormous respect for ‘the fact’ […] [a]nd there is no fact so ‘hard’ as a number” (p. 86). The use of statistics as an example to demonstrate how ideology is shaped in society is strong because it is concrete. It is clearly shown to the reader that statistics has the power to legitimize what can sometimes be deceitful information. Taking this example into account, it makes more sense for ideology to be many sets of ideas that are influenced by a process of interaction than a process itself because, according to Ewick, an individual’s ideology can be shaped by interaction with …show more content…
86-89). These examples demonstrate how ideologies are shaped and reshaped, and highlight this formation in a context that demonstrates why individuals follow laws set forth by people in a position of power. Ewick’s section on dissimulation is specifically well explained with the global example of language and ideology in South Africa and the United States. Ewick states that people use dissimulation, which “represents the techniques of concealment and distortion”, in order to maintain power; an example of this is the use of language to simplify problems in society (p. 88). I agree with the claim of dissimulation having an active part in shaping ideology and the way people think. The Canadian ruling class does this daily by glossing over issues, such as poverty and racism. This is especially present during elections when each political party aims to cover their involvement in problems in order to only highlight their assets. When individuals do not question or know to question people in authority, ideologies may be shaped by the language these authority figures use. It is not clearly stated, but the relationship between consciousness and ideology can be explored in these examples of statistics and language. I have argued that consciousness is, in addition to how people think, the
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