“Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus: Summary and Critique

Introduction: “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

“Stuart Hall’s Theory of Ideology: A Frame for Rhetorical Criticism” by Anne Makus first appeared in the Western Journal of Speech Communication in the Fall of 1990 (Volume 54, Issue 4, Pages 495–514). Published by Routledge, this article explores Stuart Hall’s critical theory of ideology as a valuable framework for rhetorical analysis, emphasizing its application to issues of power, dominance, epistemology, language, and consensus-building within public discourse. Central to the article is Hall’s concept of “articulation,” which enables critics to examine the interconnection between linguistic structures and historical conditions that shape consciousness and social realities. Makus illustrates the importance of Hall’s theory by critiquing its applicability to postmodern discussions and ideological debates, making it a cornerstone in the intersection of literary theory and rhetorical criticism. The study highlights the significance of literary theory in interrogating the ideological underpinnings of cultural and social narratives, offering tools to challenge entrenched power dynamics and foster emancipatory critique.

Summary of “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

Term/Concept	Definition/Explanation	Relevance/Usage
Ideology	A system of mental frameworks, including language, concepts, and representations, used by social groups to make sense of society (Makus, 1990, p. 500).	Links discourse with social formations and constructs consciousness, maintaining power structures.
Articulation	The connection of different elements, creating structural unities without inherent relationships (Makus, 1990, p. 503).	A key method for analyzing how ideological elements interact with linguistic and historical conditions.
Common Sense	Taken-for-granted “truths” that appear natural and inevitable, shaped by ideology (Makus, 1990, p. 498).	Demonstrates how dominant ideologies obscure alternative perspectives by presenting partial views as universal truths.
Reality Effect	The ideological process by which socially constructed meanings appear natural and uncontested (Makus, 1990, p. 499).	Explains how ideologies shape perceptions of reality and normalize power structures.
Democratic Pluralism	The presumption of equality and shared values in democratic societies, problematized by Hall (Makus, 1990, p. 498).	Highlights the inequalities and exclusions within supposedly egalitarian systems.
Consensus	Socially constructed agreements that legitimate power and suppress alternative views (Makus, 1990, p. 498).	Used to critique the mechanisms through which dominant ideologies maintain control.
Hegemony	Cultural leadership by dominant groups, maintaining power through consent rather than coercion (Makus, 1990, p. 502).	Illustrates how dominant ideologies are internalized and accepted by subordinate groups.
Logics of Debate	Structured frameworks that determine the boundaries and terms of discourse (Makus, 1990, p. 505).	Used to analyze how arguments are framed to reinforce dominant ideologies and exclude alternative perspectives.
Legitimation	The process by which dominant ideologies justify and naturalize power structures (Makus, 1990, p. 502).	Explains how institutions maintain authority by aligning their interests with those of the public.
Discursive Formations	Patterns of language and rhetoric that interact with historical conditions to produce social meaning (Makus, 1990, p. 512).	Helps analyze the interplay of language, power, and social structures.
Structural Constraints	Limitations imposed by ideological and material structures on discourse and practice (Makus, 1990, p. 501).	Identifies how ideological systems restrict alternative perspectives and reinforce dominant power.
Fractured Alliances	The alliances among classes and groups within hegemonic structures, marked by unity despite diverse interests (Makus, 1990, p. 502).	Highlights the complexity of class dynamics within dominant power structures.
Epistemology of Power	The study of how knowledge and truth are constructed within power relations (Makus, 1990, p. 497).	Used to critique the ideological processes shaping knowledge and truth in society.

Contribution of “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus to Literary Theory/Theories

• Integration of Ideology with Rhetorical Criticism
  • Anne Makus applies Hall’s theory to analyze the interplay between discourse, power, and ideology, enriching rhetorical criticism with insights from cultural studies (Makus, 1990, p. 495).
  • Highlights how rhetoric constructs consciousness and reinforces or challenges power structures.
• Articulation as a Critical Method
  • Introduces “articulation” as a method to analyze non-necessary connections among ideological elements and their interaction with linguistic and historical conditions (Makus, 1990, p. 503).
  • Extends literary criticism to focus on how meaning is created and contested within specific social and historical contexts.
• Critique of Democratic Pluralism
  • Challenges assumptions of egalitarianism in democratic systems by revealing ideological structures that enforce dominance and suppress alternative perspectives (Makus, 1990, p. 498).
  • Expands theoretical tools for analyzing societal narratives in literature and other media.
• Analysis of Hegemony in Texts
  • Builds on Hall’s concept of hegemony to show how dominant groups maintain control by shaping cultural narratives (Makus, 1990, p. 502).
  • Provides a framework for examining how texts perpetuate or resist cultural leadership.
• Focus on Power and Representation in Literary Works
  • Explores how texts contribute to the “reality effect,” where constructed meanings appear natural and inevitable, aligning with dominant ideologies (Makus, 1990, p. 499).
  • Offers insights into the relationship between power, language, and representation in literature.
• Structural and Historical Approach
  • Advocates for analyzing texts not only as isolated artifacts but as products of historical and material conditions (Makus, 1990, p. 512).
  • Enhances literary theory by integrating structural analysis with historical materialism.
• Emphasis on Alternative Perspectives
  • Stresses the importance of uncovering marginalized voices and challenging “common sense” formulations within texts (Makus, 1990, p. 498).
  • Encourages critics to analyze how literature resists or aligns with dominant ideologies.
• Intersection with Postmodern Theories
  • Aligns Hall’s work with postmodern critiques of knowledge, instability, and narrative archetypes (Makus, 1990, p. 497).
  • Bridges postmodern literary theory with ideological analysis.
• Legitimation of Discursive Power
  • Explains how literary texts can participate in legitimating dominant ideologies by embedding them as “natural” truths (Makus, 1990, p. 502).
  • Offers tools for critiquing how literature and media maintain or disrupt social hierarchies.

Examples of Critiques Through “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

Literary Work	Critique Focus	Application of Stuart Hall’s Theory
George Orwell’s 1984	The construction of “truth” and ideological dominance.	Explores how Big Brother’s narrative establishes a “reality effect” (Makus, 1990, p. 499), naturalizing the regime’s version of truth while delegitimizing resistance.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved	Representation of historical trauma and marginalized voices.	Analyzes how dominant ideologies marginalize the history of slavery while Morrison’s articulation disrupts hegemonic narratives of American history (Makus, 1990, p. 498).
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby	Ideology of the American Dream and its inherent contradictions.	Reveals the ideological “logics” that uphold the myth of meritocracy while exposing the systemic barriers that maintain class structures (Makus, 1990, p. 505).
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale	The intersection of power, gender, and ideology in dystopian contexts.	Examines the “articulation” of religious and political discourses to sustain patriarchal control, showing how ideological codes become embedded in societal norms (Makus, 1990, p. 503).

Criticism Against “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

• Limited Ethical Framework
  • The article emphasizes structural constraints on discourse but fails to fully address the ethical responsibilities of rhetoricians or the agency of individuals in resisting dominant ideologies (Makus, 1990, p. 512).
• Overemphasis on Structural Determinism
  • While acknowledging the role of agency, Makus’s interpretation often prioritizes structural forces, potentially underestimating individual or collective action in altering ideological formulations (Makus, 1990, p. 502).
• Ambiguity in Application
  • The broadness of concepts like “articulation” and “ideological logics” can make the critical methodology appear abstract, leaving room for interpretative inconsistencies in practical application (Makus, 1990, p. 503).
• Neglect of Emotional and Aesthetic Dimensions
  • The focus on structural and ideological analysis downplays the emotional or aesthetic impact of rhetoric, which can also be pivotal in shaping consciousness and social practices (Makus, 1990, p. 505).
• Limited Case Study Scope
  • The article’s application of Hall’s theory to the computer hacking debate offers insights but may be viewed as too narrow to showcase the broader relevance of the methodology across diverse rhetorical situations (Makus, 1990, p. 509).
• Insufficient Engagement with Opposing Theories
  • Makus provides little direct engagement with alternative theoretical frameworks, such as post-structuralist critiques or psychoanalytic approaches, which could further enrich the discussion (Makus, 1990, p. 497).
• Dependence on Hall’s Original Framework
  • The article heavily relies on Hall’s theoretical groundwork without substantially advancing or critiquing his concepts, limiting its contribution to the evolution of rhetorical and ideological theory (Makus, 1990, p. 495).

Representative Quotations from “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Ideology produces in its subjects and consumers a recognition of what is already known.” (Makus, 1990, p. 499)	Highlights how ideology naturalizes certain beliefs, making them appear as common sense or inevitable truths, which reinforces social norms and limits alternative perspectives.
“Articulation refers to non-necessary connections that can create structural unities among linguistic and historical conditions.” (Makus, 1990, p. 500)	Defines the pivotal concept of “articulation,” which explains how disparate ideas or elements are linked within ideological structures, shaping meaning and social understanding.
“Dominant definitions embedded within dominant social, political, and economic structures weight the struggle.” (Makus, 1990, p. 501)	Emphasizes how power dynamics in society privilege certain ideological interpretations, which impacts the outcome of social and rhetorical debates.
“Hall develops an especially rich critical theory of ideology and a critical method focusing upon articulation.” (Makus, 1990, p. 496)	Commends Hall’s theory for its depth and applicability in analyzing the relationship between language, power, and social practices, underscoring its relevance for rhetorical criticism.
“Consensus upon which democratic pluralism supposedly rests must be the result of social labor.” (Makus, 1990, p. 498)	Argues that consensus is not natural but socially constructed, calling into question the assumptions underpinning ideals of democracy and pluralism.
“Ideologies do not operate through single ideas; they operate, in discursive chains, in clusters, in semantic fields.” (Makus, 1990, p. 504)	Suggests that ideology is systemic, with interconnected ideas reinforcing each other to shape and constrain public discourse and social realities.
“The critic would interrogate the common sense of what the ‘debate’ is about.” (Makus, 1990, p. 505)	Encourages rhetorical critics to go beyond surface-level arguments and analyze the underlying assumptions and ideological constraints of public discourse.
“Hall’s notion of articulation opens up possibilities for analyzing the interaction between discursive structures and historical conditions.” (Makus, 1990, p. 496)	Articulation serves as a tool to examine how historical contexts influence and shape the production of meaning within ideologies.
“Hacking is defined as either an act of creativity and exploration or as a political act, but both views position it as noble and necessary.” (Makus, 1990, p. 509)	Illustrates how ideological frameworks can create a consensus around a particular issue, even when multiple perspectives are present, by framing it within positive connotations.
“Hall maintains that there is no one-to-one relationship between conditions of social existence and how we experience them.” (Makus, 1990, p. 500)	Challenges deterministic views of social relations, emphasizing that experiences are mediated by ideological and discursive processes, making interpretations fluid and contested.

Suggested Readings: “Stuart Hall’s Theory Of Ideology: A Frame For Rhetorical Criticism” By Anne Makus

1. DeLuca, Kevin. “Articulation Theory: A Discursive Grounding for Rhetorical Practice.” Philosophy & Rhetoric, vol. 32, no. 4, 1999, pp. 334–48. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40238046. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
2. Agwuele, Augustine. “Culture Trumps Scientific Fact: ‘Race’ in US American Language.” Social Analysis: The International Journal of Social and Cultural Practice, vol. 60, no. 2, 2016, pp. 97–115. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26404917. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
3. Anne Makus. Rhetoric Society Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 3, 1990, pp. 305–07. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3885849. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.