"A problem with the notion of hegemony inheres in the question of how exactly one defines consent. For the question of consent is predicated on a conception of the subject: does the subject agree to be led through explicit, active and conscious choice or is a less premeditated and conscious acquiescence or non-resistance sufficient?" --Easthope & McGowan
Hegemony refers to the dominance of one group over others. Hegemony is typically not explicit--it operates behind the scenes without people realizing that it is there, structuring even their unconscious thoughts as well as their conscious ways of life. Marxist Antonio Gramsci argues that hegemony occurs when a ruling group is able to govern through a balance of force and persuasion by exercising power when needed and continuing to provide intellectual and moral leadership to its subjects. The quote above discusses a significant moral issue with hegemony; this is the issue of consent. Because hegemony operates largely without people knowing that it exists, how can we know if the experience is consensual? The authors ask if consent can be assumed through the non-resistance of subjects or if an explicit, active and conscious choice is required.
This concept of collective experience without much room for individuality relates to the way that Benjamin describes technology has changed art in his text "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". He says that "the public is an examiner, but an absent-minded one". This is not unlike the absent-minded manner in which citizens of a society absent-mindedly comply with the norms perpetuated by hegemony. Because people now collectively experience art, their individual thoughts about the artwork is no longer of much significance. Rather, what is valued by the public is the collective reaction to artwork. People are more likely to go to movie ratings to see if a movie was of high quality rather than what their friend believes about the movie. Similarly, people are more likely to adhere to what society believes rather than catering to what any particular individual believes. It is impossible to know how an individual truly perceives a piece of art because they are so greatly influenced by the collective experience of this particular piece of art. Similarly, it is impossible to know if an individual consents to the hegemonic beliefs of a society because they are so greatly influenced by the existing hegemony in place.
Hegemony refers to the dominance of one group over others. Hegemony is typically not explicit--it operates behind the scenes without people realizing that it is there, structuring even their unconscious thoughts as well as their conscious ways of life. Marxist Antonio Gramsci argues that hegemony occurs when a ruling group is able to govern through a balance of force and persuasion by exercising power when needed and continuing to provide intellectual and moral leadership to its subjects. The quote above discusses a significant moral issue with hegemony; this is the issue of consent. Because hegemony operates largely without people knowing that it exists, how can we know if the experience is consensual? The authors ask if consent can be assumed through the non-resistance of subjects or if an explicit, active and conscious choice is required.
This concept of collective experience without much room for individuality relates to the way that Benjamin describes technology has changed art in his text "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction". He says that "the public is an examiner, but an absent-minded one". This is not unlike the absent-minded manner in which citizens of a society absent-mindedly comply with the norms perpetuated by hegemony. Because people now collectively experience art, their individual thoughts about the artwork is no longer of much significance. Rather, what is valued by the public is the collective reaction to artwork. People are more likely to go to movie ratings to see if a movie was of high quality rather than what their friend believes about the movie. Similarly, people are more likely to adhere to what society believes rather than catering to what any particular individual believes. It is impossible to know how an individual truly perceives a piece of art because they are so greatly influenced by the collective experience of this particular piece of art. Similarly, it is impossible to know if an individual consents to the hegemonic beliefs of a society because they are so greatly influenced by the existing hegemony in place.
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