Manifestoon

Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” and Chomsky’s “Propaganda Model” both share various similarities involving the commodification of the viewers, the isolation of power amongst the elite, and dispersion of power amongst the masses.
Marx refers to the relationship between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to be “reduced...to a mere money relation,” similar to Chomsky’s “Propaganda Model” which emphasizes that media corporations are inserting advertising media and distorting media in order to maximize financial profit. Both arguments share the similarity of the more powerful group to be intent upon profiting off the general grouping of individuals, resulting in abuse of what is perceived to be the truth, placing private interests over that of the public’s.
Not only is the relationship between the two groups solely based upon monetary profit, there is also a shared similarity that the higher group (the bourgeoisie and the media corporations)—while smaller in size—hold the bulk of power in society. The media corporations control what enters the media, resulting in their ability to influence what society is exposed to. The bourgeoisie are also an elite group of the top tier—their power is also extensive and far more than that of the proletariat. As a result, this imbalance in power results in the more powerful group to control and profit off of the less powerful group.
Lastly, not only does this difference in power result in the exploitation of the less powerful, but also promotes the diffusion of power amongst the masses. Marx states that the true victory in the uprising of the proletariat is that they increase in number, and have a more improved means of communication. Essentially, Marx conveys that the united cooperation of the working class can rise against the bourgeoisie and overthrow the system. Yet, this is difficult to do, as in reference to Chomsky’s “Propaganda Model,” the media corporations have full control of mass media, and thus feed the public with propaganda and useless information that suppresses the ability to make change (an increase in entropy, as stated by Stevens). As a result, there is a need to balance out the power distribution, yet, it is very difficult to do so, as the elite group who holds power controls the flow of society and, as a result, the public.