Critical Analysis Of Consciousness And Ideology

A Critical Analysis of Consciousness and Ideology
Ashley Ryan 20457516
University of Waterloo
LS 401
Dr. Brophy
October 13, 2015

Patricia Ewick in her article, Consciousness and Ideology, attempts to explain the definition of ideology, and its relationship with consciousness (2004). Ewick claims that ideology is complex and should be viewed as a process (2004, p. 80). 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; this dissimilarity is power (Ewick, 2004, p. 81). I agree with Ewick’s claim about ideology being complex and not one system
In the title and introduction of Consciousness and Ideology, Ewick clearly indicates that she is most interested in relating ideology to consciousness (2004, p. 80). However, the body paragraphs of her article appear to mostly focus on defining the concept of ideology, instead of its relationship with consciousness. In her conclusion, Ewick states that she did not talk a lot about consciousness (2004, p. 92) and then ties consciousness to ideology in her concluding paragraphs. During the body of the article, the reader concentrates on the definition of ideology. However, I can also understand why Ewick would want the reader to focus on this. It is important to be explained the complexity of the concept of ideology before going further and linking it to another abstract concept, being in this case consciousness. It is possible that it would have been better for Ewick to tie the idea of ideology to consciousness at the end of each section of the article in order to keep her article on one
I agree with this claim that people who engage with the law are more involved with shaping and reshaping ideology through meaning. If someone is more knowledgeable of the laws that comprise society, and challenge them, that might lead one to say that that individual is acting on a more conscious level than a different individual who may not seek knowledge or challenge these same laws; these people seem to be more aware of things happening in society. This is how laws change over time. There is a question remaining here though regarding whether or not these individuals, who may come from different social classes, have as much of an influence on transforming ideology than the more elite members in a society. Ewick addresses this question by claiming that “empirical analysis of law creation, interpretation and enforcement has demonstrated that ideology is not aligned in an a priori way with a particular or single set of dominant interests imposed downward upon the masses” (2004, p. 83). I find this statement interesting; because looking at society, it does not appear that this is always the