An interpretation of ideology

This thesis aims to accomplish three goals. First, I will provide an explication and analysis of the traditional Marxist theories of ideology as they are presented in The German Ideology and Capital. This analysis will show that there are in fact two different versions of ideology in these texts. Secondly, I will consider what I will call a postmodern critique of ideology. I will then argue that such a critique can only be overcome if the two versions of ideology are substantially revised. Finally, I will argue that, through the works of Louis Althusser and Slavoj iek, these two versions of ideology can be sufficiently revised and synthesized in such a way as to overcome the postmodern critique of ideology