ruling ideas

1. What social processes participate in the formation of “ruling ideas”, and how would you explain the key concepts associated with it – “division of labor”, and “ruling class”? What do Marx and Engels mean by – “The ideas of the ruling class are in every age the ruling ideas” (The German Ideology)? Explain theoretically with close reference to the text, how this is brought about. (350 – 400 words)
2. How useful are the above concepts in understanding contemporary ideas and events? Using any ONE social or cultural example in the past twenty years, either within the US or globally, discuss this point. Examples might be, for instance, media portrayals, literary or cultural representations of things, powerful ideas which have influenced many people, etc. How does the example you have chosen reflect ruling class interests, and how do these interests and ideas shape “opinion”? Secondly, you also need to address how such ruling interests are, or could be, countered by other (“working-class”) interests and ideas?