P/P/100. Marx's understanding of ideology in reference to 'ruling ideas'

The paper contains a review of Karl Marx's theory focusing on the concept of ideology. Defined as 'dominant ideas in a given social order', ideology becomes a hegemony for society showing predominance of one social class over the other. The paper offers a brief summary of Marx's theory of historical materialism, according to which ruling ideas are the expression of the dominant material relationship, and as such are circulated among the public by mass media and communication. It is concluded that ideology operates to keep class divisions intact, and that it exists as an independent entity.