VAGABOND, Marx & Althusser

“Ideology” is defined as “A baseline definition of ideology would contrast it with the notion of ideas” (30). To be honest, this definition was more like a chicken and egg banter than anything else. My point being: does a baseline definition of ideology contrast the term with ideas? Or does it put the term above ideas, or maybe even before ideas.
I think it is interesting to see how ideology, depending on the interpretation, can be political or economical etc. By comparing the present to the past, I suppose we always look back thinking the people in the past were such barbarians for doing things a certain way – what gives us the right to determine what is “right” and “good”?
Marx and Althusser examines the ideological structures of civilizations which ultimately argue that Ideology and is a form of hegemony. Althusser also has a similar approach as Barthes: Barthes believes that “gap” (what is not said) is the key to understanding the message, and Althusser claims that ideology is understood by the author above all else, therefore it is necessary to read between the lines to get the whole idea (tmesis). Interestingly, the American culture is the most apparent and prominent concept because it embraces the ever popular American Dream. Here, Marx would argue that the American Dream the perfect result from a "false consciousness" that depends on the idea of a "conscious acquiescence" (35). Although the American Dream says that hard work leads to success, it is only a small percentage of those that achieve this – most just get lost. While this guarantees a lot of hard working people because it embodies great principles, yet it is crucial to remember that the American Dream was an idea the bourgeoisie imposed on the general public.
However, I also acknowledge the reality of the vicious circle. If thousands don’t support the notion of the American Dream, it would cease to exist and we would be free of the “submission" (49).