Dominant Ideology & Literature, music...

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I've read and reread the chapter about dominant ideology. I understand that it means the ideology of the "ruling" class but I think I need a more in depth explanation in order to answer the chapter question of how is dominant ideology evident in literature, music, movies, theater, television programs, and sporting events?

What does the concept "dominant ideology" mean?

The dominant ideology in Marxist or marxian theory is the set of common values and beliefs shared by most people in a given society, framing how the majority think about a range of topics, from art and science to politics. It precedes and overlaps with the idea of a paradigm. Compare with Gramsci's hegemony.

In other words, the dominant ideology, such as capitalism, is TRANSFERRED by the common set of values and beliefs shared by most of the people in the society and, thus, embedded in the very fiber of society, including literature, music, movies, theater, television programs and sporting events.
Example: Art
For example, Art, in its broadest meaning, is the expression of creativity and/or imagination. Throughout the written history of humankind, various constrictions have been applied to the broad concept. Most individuals know what they consider to be art, and what they believe is not art. Additionally, groups, such as academia, have a vaguely shared notion of what is, or is not, art. The word art is often used to refer to the visual arts, and arts is used to refer to visual art, literature, music, dance — the fine arts. However, such distinctions are the subject of many discussions and debates. Art seems to be almost universal throughout the human race — integral to the human condition. There are no cultures that do not participate in it to some extent, and child art is created by all from about the first birthday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art).
Art changes over time and is situated within the broader dominant ideology of the society. For example, The work of painter Jackson Pollock appeared to be the result of throwing and pouring of paint on a canvas, apparently without skill, and brought into question the validity of much contemporary art (1960 to present). To most people, his work seems to be something that any three-year-old could easily do. There is often such consensus of agreement about what can be considered art. This consensus does not appear to be static over time and can be seen as being similar to evolution's doctrine of survival of the fittest (dominant sicentific ideology of the time), where even good ideas inevitably disappear and are ploughed under by history, while other ideas survive.

The dominant ideology often limits Art, for example, to a certain social class. In fact, Art is often seen as belonging to one social class and excluding others. In this context, art is seen as a high-status activity associated with wealth, the ability to purchase art, and the leisure required to enjoy it. The palaces of Versailles or the Hermitage in St. Petersburg with their vast collections of art, amassed by the fabulously wealthy royalty of Europe exemplify this view. Collecting such art is the preserve of the rich.
However, there is a (not always deliberate) tradition of artists bringing their vision down to earth, and inhabiting a mundane, even poverty stricken, world. The life of Vincent van Gogh is a classic example of this starving artist tradition. It hardly needs to be mentioned, however, that few find such a state of existence desirable, and (bearing in mind that "poverty" in this sense also connotes a certain lack of public approval or appetite) that one of the near-defining characteristics of artists is a desire to be seen universally, if not always to be understood.
Before the 13th century in Europe, artisans were considered to belong to a lower caste, since they were essentially manual labourers. After Europe was re-exposed to classical culture during the Renaissance, particularly in the nation states of what is now Italy (Florence, Siena), artists gained an association with high status. However, arrangements of "fine" and expensive goods have always been used by institutions of power as marks of their own status. This is seen in the 20th and 21st century by the commissioning or purchasing of art by big businesses and corporations as decoration for their offices. (see more on art at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art).
History of art
See main article: Art history
Art was also studied by psychologists such as Freud and M. ...