Althusser's Concept of Ideology: Unmasking the Structures of Power

In his essay, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses", Louis Althusser presents a thought-provoking analysis of ideology and its pervasive influence in society. He contends that ideology is not simply a collection of abstract beliefs, but rather a system of dominant ideas that serves to maintain the existing status quo and uphold the interests of those in power. Althusser, being a Marxist, argues that this ideological apparatus is intricately linked to the material and economic base of society, ensuring its perpetuation. By examining various state and private apparatuses such as schools, politics, and what Adorno and Horkheimer called "the culture industry", Althusser reveals the mechanisms by which ideology is disseminated and internalized. Ideology is the societal superstructure (as described by Marx), existing to uphold, in the contemporary period, the prevailing capitalist economy and preserve the existing power dynamics. 

On the Co-existence of Modernity and Tradition

Modernity and tradition are often seen as antagonistic forces, especially in the non-western world, which might be due to the western origins of modernity and the general way in which it is perceived. If we do consider both as contradictory (“you can’t be modern and traditional at the same time”), then, by basic logic, the co-existence of modernity and tradition becomes an impossibility.

But, if we conceive modernity as a dialectical system, something which continuously evolves by the overcoming of its internal and external contradictions, we shall be able to see the possibility of the co-existence of modernity and tradition. So, modernity is not a static thing, but, on the contrary, it is an ongoing process. Modernity has its own values, beliefs, and practices that we deem as “modern”. 

An Analysis of Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez

This is a 1656 painting called "Las Meninas" by the leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, Diego Velazquez: