Tags: power, capital, Bourdieu, Power Elite, Mills
Authors: Jordan Ricker and Holly Stokes
Date: March 23, 2015
2nd video clip: Season 1, Episode 13, minute 16 to 16:25
3rd video clip: Season 2, Episode 13, minute 30:20 to 31:20
Summary: This is a selection of three clips that illustrate Frank and Remy's
contrasting views on the most important thing to strive after - money or power.
It is a series of exchanges between the two ranging from the second episode of
the first season, "Chapter 2" until the end of the second season in
"Chapter 26." While Remy used to work for Frank, he has now moved up
in influence, largely because of his financial accumulations. This past relationship,
plus their differing views on whether money or power is more important, plays a
large role in House of Cards. These three excerpts are some of the best-distilled
quotes that summarize the different approaches.
Analysis:
What is the most meaningful form of capital?
In Pierre’s Bourdieu's 1986 The Forms of Capital, he argues that the three forms of capital are economic, social, and cultural with economic being the end goal and most meaningful. In House of Cards, Frank’s personal beliefs contradict those of Bourdieu because Frank argues that true power is not possible to gain from purely economic capital. He believes that power is a stable structure built through networking and social capital. It is not flashy, it is not financially based, it is a social and political power that is fortified through connections and traditions. This is very well expressed when he says, “Money is the Mc-mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries” (4:48). Frank’s view of power is extremely human-focused, wherein he contradicts Bourdieu and argues that politicians and “old money” are the most important players of the political elite described by C. Wright Mills.
Remy, on the other hand, argues with Bourdieu’s view that economic capital is the strongest form of capital. Remy believes that money rules all and that the temporary and quick building of economic capital does not diminish its power – in fact, it augments it because it does not take as much time to accumulate. In his view, money is actually more long lasting than Frank’s view of “power” because alliances can change and whither over time but money will not. Economic influence does not need to be continuously cultivated. Remy believes the “corporate elite” are the most powerful of the Power Elite theory espoused by Mills. While both of these central characters in House of Cards seem to be focusing on the best way to influence other people – that is, to get what they want from others, they each believe that their respective way of going about it is the best. Reader, what do you think is the most meaningful form of capital? Who possesses it and who is able to possess it? And lastly, is capital the determining aspect of power relations in the world today?
What is the most meaningful form of capital?
In Pierre’s Bourdieu's 1986 The Forms of Capital, he argues that the three forms of capital are economic, social, and cultural with economic being the end goal and most meaningful. In House of Cards, Frank’s personal beliefs contradict those of Bourdieu because Frank argues that true power is not possible to gain from purely economic capital. He believes that power is a stable structure built through networking and social capital. It is not flashy, it is not financially based, it is a social and political power that is fortified through connections and traditions. This is very well expressed when he says, “Money is the Mc-mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries” (4:48). Frank’s view of power is extremely human-focused, wherein he contradicts Bourdieu and argues that politicians and “old money” are the most important players of the political elite described by C. Wright Mills.
Remy, on the other hand, argues with Bourdieu’s view that economic capital is the strongest form of capital. Remy believes that money rules all and that the temporary and quick building of economic capital does not diminish its power – in fact, it augments it because it does not take as much time to accumulate. In his view, money is actually more long lasting than Frank’s view of “power” because alliances can change and whither over time but money will not. Economic influence does not need to be continuously cultivated. Remy believes the “corporate elite” are the most powerful of the Power Elite theory espoused by Mills. While both of these central characters in House of Cards seem to be focusing on the best way to influence other people – that is, to get what they want from others, they each believe that their respective way of going about it is the best. Reader, what do you think is the most meaningful form of capital? Who possesses it and who is able to possess it? And lastly, is capital the determining aspect of power relations in the world today?
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