Question #5

 5) Hegemony is the power (either political, economic, ideological or cultural) exerted by a dominant group over other groups, regardless of the explicit consent of the latter. This term is best defined as dominance achieved through consensus, not force. (Wikipedia) Ideology is the body of doctrine, myth, belief etc. that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class or large group. (Dictionary.com)

     The Flash game (the Urinal Game) depicts the urinal section of a public men’s restroom that contains six urinals.  The game is presented as a quiz consisting of six “problems, the “problems” being at which vacant urinal should the next man in the restroom (you) position himself, given that each “problem” portrays a different array of men already in the process of relieving themselves.  The game assumes there is a common body of beliefs, and masculine viewpoints (an ideology) that allow one to “correctly” choose which vacant urinal to use.  The correct answer to the first depiction, which shows one man at one end of the row of urinals, is to choose the urinal farthest away.  The ideology here is that distance and privacy are the culturally controlling imperatives and the correct answer also indicates that by going as far away as you can, you show “respect” for the other man.  Choosing the urinal next to the man already there is implied to be an act of cultural hegemony.  That is, regardless of his explicit consent, you more or less invade his privacy.  Each of the six problems presents a different array of men, or in one case, a very large man.   In the case of the large man, the “correct” answer is to not stand beside him because his size and strength would be an exertion of his “power” over you.  Another answer advises you to keep your eyes fixed to the wall in front of you. By looking down, you invade the other man’s privacy (hegemony) and leave yourself open to the suspicion of being gay (ideology – no “real man” wants to be suspected of being gay.)