BLOG PROMPT FOR ALTHUSSER WEEK OF 9/21

Hi all,

I have a few questions about Althusser that I'd like everyone to consider. Feel free to also contribute something less in reponse to my post, but relevant to the reading.

Althusser makes the distinction between RSAs (repressive state apparatuses) and ISAs (Ideological state apparatuses) in his essay. He makes the claim here that, contrary to Marx, ideology can and does impact social organization. Based on this, I'd be interested to see someone try to tease out how Althusser and Marx differ in their conception of ideology.

Furthermore, Althusser claims that one of, if not the central, ISA today is school. Do you agree with him? Why or why not? I'd like to see some depth to your discussion, so try to come up with some good examples for how school operates as an Ideological State Apparatus in particular (or how it might break from being an ISA).

Of course, feel free to also post a discussion of any other aspect of his essay if something catches your fancy (of if my questions have confounded you).

Remember to get your posts up by Monday at Midnight!