To receive full credit, these blog assignments must be posted by SUNDAY night, March 28 at midnight. If you post late, please email me your post directly at sdebross@uvm.edu as soon as you are able, and I'll give you partial credit.
1. Culture Jam
Blog a 5 paragraph letter to Kalle Lasn, President Obama, a particular corporation, or a state or national legislator expressing your views, beliefs, new knowledge, and planned or requested actions with regard to what you have gained from reading the book Culture Jam. What was significant for you? Did something move you to action? Has your view of your life, our society or the earth been altered? What is your role in affecting positive social and environmental change?
Be concise yet thoughtful, and develop and support your ideas. Use and cite short quotes from the readings as needed, or summarize the author’s words in your own. Relate your ideas to what you have learned through the reading, and include new insights and perspectives you feel you have gained from the book or in class. Please note: I strongly suggest that you plan to actually mail your letter – be an activist!
2. The Corporation
Please blog one surprise, one agitation, one significant item of new learning, and one question you have after screening the second half of this film. Did you find the end of the film hopeful and helpful as we struggle with the challenge of what we can do personally to address American overconsumption and its commensurate negative impacts? How will you use the information you have experienced in this film?
I went back and forth deciding who I wanted to write to, first McDonalds, then Walmart, then I wanted to write to a magazine, but then I decided I wouldn’t have enough to say to each, so I decided to write to Kalle Lasn….
ReplyDeleteDear Kalle Lasn,
I have just finished reading your book “Culture Jam”, and after reading the epilogue, I wasn’t completely satisfied with how everything was just left. I am currently a sophomore studying Nutrition and Food Science, and minoring in Environmental Studies, and I have found the focus of my minor to be based around consumerism, and this book gave me a lot of information regarding different ideas that I have yet to think about.
Within consumerism and media, the part that stands out and affects me the most is how much the media has an affect on body image and how it has basically set what he have to be, what we have to look like, and what we have to buy. One of the parts that stuck out most to me is the idea of “cool” and how it has a whole new meaning. In this day and age, if you aren’t wearing anything on the “what’s hot” list in Cosmopolitan magazine or Glamour magazine, you just aren’t cool. Being a girl and growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut, the media always had an impact on the people around me. The girls in high school were always following the so-called hottest trends, and I never fell into that. My mom refused to buy the clothes these girls wore, and to be honest, I was jealous of some of them in middle school. But now being a sophomore in college, I just see how these girls are driven to look “cool” just because some stylist says so. If someone told the girls I grew up with that wearing a paper bag over their head was cool, I bet you $100 they would do it. It just bothers me how everyone seems to feel this need to be cool, and how you described how it has changed over the years left me thinking a lot. You can’t be cool and wear something out of the ordinary, but back in the day, that was what cool was. But since the media has such a toll on us, cool will never be the same.
While reading the section “The New Activism”, and where you are describing culture jammers, it made me think a lot to why I switched my major. I was originally an environmental studies major, but then I switched it because I thought I was living a lie amongst many other liars and hypocrites. Once I got to college, I felt I was living in a bubble here in Vermont. I feel that living in “the healthiest city” has made people here at UVM change who they are just to fit in. Within a month of school last year, so many people I knew turned to vegetarians just because everyone else has. Being a vegetarian for a while now, the idea of people just doing it because it was trendy didn’t sit with me. People were just environmental studies majors just to have that label, and it took me 1 ½ years to realize that I can’t live amongst people like that who are so driven to be a certain way just because our professor said so. I have nothing against the major or lifestyle, but I just couldn’t agree with it and couldn’t see myself being that aggravated for the rest of my time here at college. Sorry for that rant, but it just reminded me of your views on culture jammers and how people would consider themselves culture jammers just because they can. I think this is an issue that will take me awhile to sort out in my head, but you have definitely helped me understand that idea and add to my angst that I have developed the past year and a half.
Linking back to the idea of living in a bubble here in Vermont, the section “Demarketing Loops” is something that we would all love to see, but I feel that this can only happen to a certain extent in a certain area, creating a bubble like Vermont. We have no billboards here, which is incredible, but the second I hit Massachusetts on my ride home every few months, I know I am out of that comfort of the Vermont bubble. The idea of uncooling all of these topics would have such an impact if people were just more educated. Even though I complain and complain about how I hate people who just follow these trends just because it might seem cool to them, in the long run it will make a difference and I won’t have anything to complain about anymore. By uncooling and demarketing each different aspect within out media driven world, it will make a huge difference, and since I am a strong believer of “every little step counts” I feel that simple steps such as adbusters videos and campaigns can impact so many people.
ReplyDeleteI know I might sound like a hypocrite and complain a lot, but the impact that my knowledge on consumerism and media has started to get to me more than I hoped for. I have turned into a cynical person regarding media, and I couldn’t even enjoy a family vacation to Disney World because of it. I may have strong feelings towards some of the people I took Environmental Studies classes with, but I have to give them some credit, because it will make a difference. Your book has helped me think on a whole different level and have opened my eyes to new ideas. I feel that it was a part of the idea of consumerism I was missing out on, and I would like to thank you for your work. I plan on sharing some of the ideas you wrote about the next time I get a chance, and I hope that people will truly start to see how media and consumerism has taken a hold of our lives.
Thank you,
Britny Alvarado
Weston, Connecticut
2. The Corporation
Surprise: Throughout the movie I thought the ending would consist of us having no hope just like the rest of the movie seems to make us believe. But at the end, they say that there is hope, and that we can still have an affect on the world and everything. I was surprised they showed some hope at the end and that we could have a positive future if we all just work on it.
Agitation: The part in the movie about Cochabamba, Bolivia stood out to be. While watching this part, I found myself very disturbed and angry over all of the violence. I can’t watch movies with violence, and when I think and hear about situations where there are such violent acts, it makes me sick to my stomach. So to see this whole situation over water privatization handled with such acts of violence, it makes me crazy to think that that was the only way people could express themselves and get what they want.
Item of new learning: Within the section “Advancing the Front” they talk about patents, and how you can patent anything except for a human. I thought this was a bit ridiculous at first, but then made me think that it’s true and everything really could be patented for whatever reason. I had no idea everything could have a patent, but while watching, it opened my eyes to that everything really is owned by something and that’s just what our world has come to.
Question: One question I have is geared towards Michael Moore…. He was saying how all these big businesses that he bashes and make the focus of his films on still allow him to do it and even some help make them. Doesn’t Michael Moore think that this is a bit hypocritical in a way??? Even though I am not really a Michael Moore fan, I was interested in what he had to say, and this just made me wonder how he feels about that and if he cares that these businesses are connected with his films.
I did find the ending to be shockingly hopeful and helpful on what we can do. I wasn’t expecting that at all, but to see that a movie with such powerful information towards these corporations could have some hope, it was reassuring to hear that. I think I might have my dad watch this movie next time I am home, and I already know he isn’t going to like what it has to say. I don’t think me just preaching to my parents will ever really change them because they are so set on their ways and don’t think they need to change. But if I show them a movie like this, I can only hope something will stick and will open their eyes. I have talked to them many many times about consumption and how we don’t need all the things we have, but they just don’t understand, and I think that this movie can maybe teach them something.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this is totally necessary, so get ready to take it in the butt MTV!
ReplyDeleteDear MTV -
One, let’s just face the basics; you are a music television channel that hardly plays music at all. However, since you do some play music, let’s discuss it. I recently went through your music videos to find various displays of half naked girls and enough diamonds hanging off the rappers to probably feed all the homeless people in the world. Way to go MTV. I have been reading this book, culture jam, that actually discusses just what it is that you are doing - ruining self image. You are making young girls and boys buy what you’re selling, and you are selling sex on every corner. Your music is not music, it is sex.
I think that you could take some advice from this book, for example, you’re corporation is a prime example of the reason “cool” is changing from something unique to something mainstream. “Now you’re cool if you are not unique - if you have the look and feel that bears the unmistakable stamp of America. Hair by Paul Mitchell. Khakis by the Gap.” Maybe you should consider what you are doing. You’re convincing impressionable kids that cool is sex and alcohol and that the reality of their life should be the reality that you’re selling them - that drinking is cool, by expensive clothes is in and that having sex is what all the normal cool kids are doing.
You also can’t claim that you don’t know that this is what you are doing to the young minds of America. According to this book, again, it costs $4,100 dollars just to get a 30 second time slot on your channel, so I’m almost certain you have looked over and looked over again to every detail of every second of programming that airs on your channel - therefore, you know exactly what you are showing the minds of young children. There is no way, for that price, that you don’t know what you’re feeding America. Why are you doing this? Why are you continually showing images of half naked girls on spring break, reality shows that depict nothing but swearing and drinking and music videos with girls that have been so photo-shopped that no girl could like that if they tried? I understand that you have freedom of speech but don’t you also think you should have a sense of responsibility too? Don’t you think that it is the right thing to do?
Culture Jam asks a very poignant question, that I would like you to answer as well, “why do nine out of ten women feel dissatisfied with some aspect of their own bodies?” I know you’re just a television station and you don’t have all the answers, but I think you should look at yourselves when trying to answer this question. Look at every character on every show that you put out, look at every message you are sending - pretty soon you will have no young girls to watch your shows because they will all either be in mental hospitals or vomiting away in their bathrooms. The girls that are watching your shows have not even gone through puberty yet and you’re expecting them to just understand and handle very adult concepts. The bad news is, they can’t! I know behind MTV there are bunch of CEO’s, and I’m sure at least one of you has a daughter - how would you like it if I exploited your daughter, taught her about sex when she was ten, taught her that drugs/alcohol were a normal part of life at eleven, and by the time she got her first period she pretty much knew that she was meant to have sex with boys and go shopping all day and party all night.
I suppose all I’m really trying to say here is that I want you to do something about all of this. It’s kind of like alcoholics anonymous, I want you to admit you have a problem first and then work to fix it. What you are doing is wrong; this is okay for you to admit. You should then try a new strategy. Let’s not focus on any illegal substances, anything that you can’t do before 18 or 21, anything you can’t do with someone 6 years older than you etc. etc. Why don’t you focus on playing the music, the real music without all the sex and whatnot. Why don’t you focus on art - isn’t that what you’re supposed to be about in the first place; a creative channel that plays music and talks about art. Go for it! I say let MTV be the station that breaks all of this nonsense and starts something new, you already have a captive audience and I don’t think that they are going anywhere…just give them something new - I promise they’ll think it is cool because it is coming from you. You could start something really great here - how about talking to real artists, promoting world change, and no more reality television - let people make their own reality. Deal or no deal?
ReplyDeleteCORPORATION!
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest surprises that I found after watching the corporation, is that many of the corporations that I’ve always thought were good companies such as Odwala and Sears, have paid millions of dollars for fraud and ignoring health standard!! I was astounded at how many companies I bought things from my whole life, were actually shady liars!!!
An agitation was to find out that many owners of various corporations don’t even realize that they are hurting the environment and when they do know they feel like they can’t go anything about it. It was weird to hear CEO’s say that fixing their environmental footstep is harder than one might think. Why should it be so hard? It shouldn’t!
One significant item of new learning would be that I had no idea that corporations were legally people!!! WOAH!!! Even further was learning that corporations are psychopaths. Crazy! I had never thought of corporations as more than the bare minimum as a place that sells things until now. It was definitely an eye opener - I will continue to think about the businesses in my life differently from now on.
One question I had after the second half was why is falsifying the news not against the law? It’s not even the corporations that are lying to us anymore, it’s the news too?!?!?! I don’t understand how this can happen, how on earth can the news I’m being presented be a lie? I never even once thought it would be legal for the national news to lie to me or to cover up the through about a story and only tell the parts that they want too. What is this world coming too? This definitely taught me that I should research the articles I read a little more.
I find the end of the film helpful - I really want to change the world we live in, and I know step by step over a lot of time I can! Woo hoo!
I will use the information I have experienced in this film to educate other about what is happening in our world that many people do not know about. I want people to join me in culture jamming and stopping all these crazy things that are happening to us!
LETTER:
ReplyDeleteDear Abercrombie and Fitch,
How is the company? We are relatively unacquainted as far as corporations and citizens go, so I will tell A&F that I am a college student at a University, and I would just like to point out some interesting things I have noticed. Abercrombie and Fitch may find them interesting as well.
To start, Abercrombie and Fitch is a clothing store, correct? So, why is it that when one walks into an Abercrombie store or views an advertisement for Abercrombie clothing, more often than not one sees what appears to be naked, in the process of becoming naked, or partially clothed people? Is there a reason the models don’t want to wear the clothing? Is it itchy or uncomfortable? Does it smell funny? It makes me think I shouldn’t want to wear the clothing either if the models can’t even stand it long enough to have a photo taken. I’ve never really understood the concept of advertising clothing with people who are clearly not wearing the clothing in the advertisement. Maybe Abercrombie and Fitch could clear up a little of this confusion for me.
To continue, I was also wondering why on the application to be an A&F model, there is a place to fill out your weight. I’m not sure if A&F is aware, but people carry their weight differently, and weight is not a correct measure of an adipose to muscle tissue ratio. If you received an application from someone who was a number of pounds over the companies weight range for models, but he/she appeared to be a healthy individual, would you turn them down? Last I checked, A&F had more than one size of clothing in the store available for purchase. It would be nice to see more than one size advertised, you know, when clothing is actually used in the advertisements to start with. I recently read a book called Culture Jam, and learned that “Nine out of ten North American women feel bad about some aspect of their bodies, and men are not far behind.” I feel as though this could be due to the advertisements such as the ones put out by A&F and other companies that only show one type of person (and unfortunately all the companies seem to have latched onto this same body type) as the beautiful and desirable body. Maybe its time to show people that there is more than one type of beautiful in the world, and A&F embraces all beauty. Vary it up, you know? Open your minds, see the beauty in every body, and show that in your advertisements, and stop asking for people’s weight in your application. It just sounds shallow.
While I’m on the topic of clothing models, I would also just like to point out the long standing complaint many people have with A&F regarding the lack of diversity present in every aspect of the store. Not only is there a lack of diversity among the models, but also among the clothing and the employees. I have noticed that pretty much all of the tee-shirts sold by A&F have a giant A&F logo on them, usually followed by some random sport or obscure year, or the words athletic department. What is so significant about the years on the shirts? And does A&F actually have an athletic department? It might be a good idea. A&F could start an athletic department, and have sports teams that actually back up the ones on the shirts. It would promote a healthier America as well as getting up and getting outside. Just a suggestion.
...
... (letter cont.)
ReplyDeleteI have also heard incidences of A&F stores firing or not hiring various employees or applicants because they do not fit the A&F “look.” This is much less than satisfactory. I would have expected more from a store than advertises all around cool casual-ness. Just so all parties involved in this letter are aware; the word casual is defined as free and easy, natural, unplanned, and marked by blithe unconcern. Trying to stuff all employees into a mold that fits the “look” of A&F doesn’t seem, to me, to be following along with the casual outlook of the company. Seems to be a lot more stuck-up and pompous in a silver-spoon-up-the-ass kind of way. A better way to accomplish this would be to just accept everybody for who they are and not hire only those who fit the mold, or can be made to fit. I’m not quite sure I understand this obsession A&F has with fitting everything into a specific and previously defined band of human.
Also, I was just wondering why there was a need for clothing that promotes the objectification of women and drinking. I would not call myself a feminist, but I am definitely all for equality. I mean, if A&F is going to make shirts that objectify women, why not objectify men too? There is a shirt for guys in on the A&F website that has a picture of a women’s lower body wearing underwear that says “I love College.” I have some ideas on what this shirt is trying to say, but I was just wondering what A&F was thinking the message of this shirt was. Why can’t A&F have a female equivalent to the shirt with a picture of a guy’s lower half in boxer briefs with “I Love College” written on his butt. Last I checked, both guys and girls “Love College.” Correct me if I‘m wrong, but I believe A&F’s target consumer is between the ages of 18 and 22. So, why is it that you have shirts for both genders promoting drinking, when the majority of the target audience is below the legal drinking age? Just doesn’t seem quite right. Why not promote activities the target age group can actually legally engage in? Just seems more practical.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Abercrombie and Fitch on its induction into the 2010 Sweatshop Hall of Fame by the International Labor Rights Forum. I would just like to make it publically known that I strongly disagree with A&F’s activities at the Alta Mode Factory in the Philippines. Is there a legitimate reason for putting 100 of the union members on forced leave, other than the fact that they were exercising their right to unionize? Also, it would prove to be much better, especially for the workers and their families if A&F did not switch its production around from factory to factory so much. Stop being so afraid of commitment ad form some relationships with your workers. Without them, A&F is really nothing more than a false sense of casual and a severely misplaced moose logo. I was also wondering what the production quota was for this factory is. Supposedly it is set beyond human capacity, but I really wanted to hear both sides of the story, so I figured I’d give A&F a chance to weigh in on the matter. Also mentioned in Culture Jam was this idea of corporations as legal people. Personally, I do not recognize corporations as people, but if A&F wants to be seen as a legal person, maybe it should find its moral compass, and realize the wrong its doing and has been doing in places like the Alta Mode Factory, and stop.
That’s all. I look forward to hearing back from Abercrombie and Fitch. And please be rest assured, if I do not receive a reply, A&F will be receiving this email for the next 70 some odd years until a legitimate response is received.
Thanks so much for your time.
Sarah Schipelliti
North Reading, Massachusetts
The Corporation:
ReplyDeleteOne thing that surprised me from the film was the ability to patent all non-human forms of life. This is insane. A one-man company now has the ability to own a form of life. Way to make corporations able to play God. Soon, everything from batteries to the idea of a human will be patented, and the only thing left to patent will be the actual human itself. What happens when a company patents a disease, and then you unfortunately get that disease? Are you going to have to pay the company that owns your disease? Because if by some horrible chance I get a disease that’s patented by a company, I am sure as hell not paying them a single penny. If anything, they should be responsible for it and have to pay my hospital bills. People cannot own life. The only life you own should be, well your own. In all honesty, I don’t even think house pets are really owned. Yeah, you are paying for their food and providing them with shelter, but if my dog ran away, that’s his choice. I’d be sad, and miss him. But I don’t own his life. Nobody should be able to own any other life than their own. That’s my take on the whole situation.
One thing that really agitated me from the film was Monsanto’s control over the story on Milk that was trying to be aired by Fox journalists. Monsanto got involved only to cover up the true detriment that milk, especially milk with RBGH in it (so Monsanto’s milk), can cause. If there was nothing wrong with RBGH, then they wouldn’t have stepped in. I can’t believe that only a 90 day study on 30 rats, with most likely misreported findings (thank you Monsanto) is being used to justify the use of RBGH in milk for humans of all ages for all lengths of time. And I can’t believe the Fox producer guy just folded right under pressure from Monsanto and agreed to do anything for Monsanto. What really got me was when he said that “…the news is what we say it it…” Wow, way to make me loose faith in all news. No, wrong, its not what you say it is. I don’t care what law says that falsifying news is not against the law. Its against every moral law. Get a back bone, stick up for what’s right. Just because it’s a law doesn’t mean you should do it. As a news station, they have a responsibility to report honest and upfront news to the population. And as a company that presides over essentially all the food for America, Monsanto has a responsibility not to kill its consumers with its chemicals and “food” and hormones. It really bothers me that Sodexho is run by Monsanto. I want nothing to do with this corrupt company.
On significant item of new learning I had from this film was learning about the appalling involvement of American companies in Nazi Gemrany during the war. One such involvement was the creation of Fanta Orange. Fanta Orange was created by Coke so it could still make profits in Nazi Germany during the war…while people died. An IBM system was used by the Nazis in every concentration camp and railroad system used to get prisoners to the camps. It was punch card system where the cards needed to be printed out. And to print the punch cards out,the Nazis used machines that were leased out to them by IBM. Then the machines needed on site maintance done once a month. So IBM can’t say they didn’t know…They did. They even collected profits from it after the war. Its just atrocious and appalling and if I had no respect for Coke before, I don’t know what you would call my lack of respect for them now. It’s a shame they have exclusive pouring rights at UVM. Boycotting beverages sold at UVM? I think so…
One question I had during the second half of the film was is there any way to get Monsanto and Coke off of the UVM campus or is that impossible in the eyes of the administration? ...
... (The Corporation Cont.)
ReplyDeleteI found the second half of the second half of the film to be more hopeful than the first 3/4ths. Even though I found the majority of the film to be, not depressing, but frustrating (not the film itself but the content), I really liked it. It made me want to go out and fix things and “jam” the corporate world so to speak. Actually, after last class, before this assignment was posted, I sent a letter to American Eagle about their new advertisement that says “What hot people wear” and “Hot people wear shorts” and how dumb it was and how I disagreed, except with much more polite and eloquent language. I’m waiting to hear back. If not, they too will be receiving emails from me for an indefinite amount of time. But then this assignment was posted and I have to admit I was quite excited about the excuse to write to another company and give them a piece of my mind. But the video opened my eyes to quite a few things that I had never known or heard of before, and I’m glad it did. As a side note, I thought that was amazing when Michael Moore brought the smokers to sing Christmas carols to the cigarette company.
Dear President Obama,
ReplyDeleteI write you this letter on the pretext of what you said during your presidential campaign wasn't a lie. The passionate pleas to the American people that you so eloquently delivered during your campaign provided me, and many others across the country, with this sense of "Hope." You gave off the swagger of a man who blazes his own trail, not lead by corporate incentives and media driven politicking, and that is the President that I voted for.
We have come across a big problem though, Mr. President, and that is media conglomeration and gigantic corporations seem to undermine your very power as a national leader. How can Monsanto or Rupert Murdoch control so much in our day to day life? Not only are corporations filtering and controlling news, food, and our mental clarity but their powers reach far beyond our borders. The very fabric of our society rests in the palm of these people's hands. And yet, we didn't elect them. We elected you.
Author and activist Kalle Lasn in his book Culture Jam, calls these organizations a "global communications cartel," which is to say that they are a producing a negative influence over our people. Young girls, and boys are growing up with convoluted images of what a human body should look. They are being desensitized to violence and murder. This all in the name of commerce. Mr. President these corporations aren't even abiding by our first amendment rights. They are manufacturing the news and disregarding the rights of man to voice decent. You as a community organizing and believer of the inherent rights of man must understand that what is transpiring here must be stopped.
It has come to my attention that corporations are held held by law under the same standards as individuals. Since this is the case then it they too should be punished like individuals. To pull from Lasn's book again he argues that each shareholder of a corporation should be made accountable for any environmental, economic, or human losses. However as things stand now these corporations lose next to nothing when they do something that for an average individual would be breaking the law. Lasn's solution, and one that you should agree with, is to hold slap these shareholders with corporate liability laws that stop repeat offenders, and prevent law breakers from having anything to do with the government.
The last thing we should be worried about in this new era of "hope," and "change,"are corporations trying to undermine our government. It is imperative for us as a country to begin to practice consumption restraint, or "voluntary simplicity." This could both protect us from harmful corporate venture capitalists and bring our country into the Green Revolution. Mr. President we need your help in defending these corporate monsters and help positively influence our future as a nation.
The documentary "The Corporation" was chillingly brilliant. I have been referencing for the past couple of day. Although not at all a light film it was necessary to watch. For me I was most surprised by the fact that a corporation could buy a countries water supply. I guess this portion of the movie both surprised and agitated me. But what was so uplifting, which there as very little of in this movie, was that the people of Bolivia stood up against their government and this giant corporation. They worked against all odds to end the monopoly over their water. How in the hell can water that comes from the sky be commodified? This scares the crap out of me. Now what I never new before watching this film was that a corporation has the same rights under law as an individual. So why aren't they also held to the same standards if they break these laws?
ReplyDeleteNow what really surprised me was that reporters for FOX news were legally hushed when they wanted to report on Monsanto's BGH dealings in Florida. First of all I was surprised that anyone working for FOX actually wanted to report real news. What really got me was how much media and corporations are in bed with each other. The press seems to be living with a constant gag order imposed. That doesn't make me feel very secure.
Overall this film did offer somewhat of a positive outlook. I for one am feel even more empowered to not consume. It can be my own little protest.
Dear Mr. President,
ReplyDeleteBefore taking a course called Media Literacy and the Environment, and reading Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn, I had no idea just how much power and domination corporations actually have over our entire society. I had no idea that news channels are allowed to lie, cover up stories, and even make them up. It has become increasingly obvious to me that giant media corporations are essentially holding onto the steering wheel of this country and everyone is a passenger with no seatbelt, whether they realize it or not. Most have no idea.
In 1886, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations have protection under the Bill of Rights, and therefore the right to free speech. This gives them the same rights as people. The important difference between a person and a corporation is that corporations have no soul or consciousness. The one and only motive of a corporation is to make money. Issues of human rights, environmental preservation, and animal rights are tossed in the landfill (so to speak) as externalized costs. How can dispassionate entities be enabled to have so much control over legislators, lobbyists, and the public?
Really, is there such a thing as democracy anymore? When common citizens are up against multi-billion dollar industries with the same constitutional rights, it is obvious which will win over the lobbyists and legislators. When nearly every American gets their news from a source that is owned and censored by a corporation with only profit in mind, do we ever really know what is going on? When a person can’t even drive down the road without seeing advertisements, how do we know what it is that we really want? The American people no longer hold the status of conscious beings; we are consumers, and the country is a corporation.
Just when I’d almost lost all faith in democracy and the ability of the people to make changes, I discovered grassroots organizing. “The People, united, will never be defeated!” There is a lot more to grassroots organizing than meets the eye. It is more than just some scruffy hippies holding signs and getting arrested. Rather than being a victim of consumer culture, we citizens can be leaders of change. Every day there are moments when individuals can do something thought provoking, something that questions the status quo. I have learned the importance of boycotting unethical products and NOT fitting-in when the “cool” thing to do is blindly consumptive and cruel. I believe that someday, maybe soon, enough people will realize that corporate power is wrong, television isn’t that great, and shopping isn’t really making us feel better about anything. When that happens, the giant corporations won’t be making so much money, and they will die.
My question for you, Mr. Obama, is how will you be a part of this change? I voted for you in November of 2008 and when you took office I had faith that this country would become a much more ethical and simplistic place. As the leader of the United States, you are my last hope. Please take away the rights of corporations under the Constitution of the United States, and give those rights back to the people.
Sincerely,
Megan Clark
(I will put my contact info when I mail it, but not on the internet.)
Culture Jam
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. President,
For many years I have been told that I live in the greatest country in the world, and I enjoy personal rights in a true democracy. I have also heard that anyone in this country can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and be successful. Our competitive economy combined with democracy allows anyone to do this. What I have been told, is far from the true situation The United States faces. I believe in the American dream and the same ideals as you, however; there is so much degradation of society and the environment it is difficult to stay firm in these beliefs.
It is hard to believe in American democracy when society closely resembles one controlled by the corporation. Yes capitalism is great, it allows people and businesses to pursue greatness without harsh social restrictions. In a corporate state however, one can argue that there are more and harsher restrictions than a communist one. These might be more subtle but they are definitely there. For example, subliminal messages in advertising, changing human behavior to fit consumption, and keeping options limited to a few big corporations. I think The United States is beginning to resemble a corporate state more than a democratic one.
After reading “Culture Jam” by Kalle Lasn I have solidified my opinion and growing concerns more than ever. Lasn has many ideas to revolutionize American media and take power from the corporations and give it back to the American people. Lasn, founder of Adbusters magazine calls forth a generation of “culture jammers” to make American life more authentic. From changing one’s perception of beauty to creating an obsession with branding and icons, corporations are involved in people’s lives too much. Marketing and advertising is rampant whether it is in sports, television, food, fashion, or music. It is interesting to consider the impact corporations play in culture. There is an obesity epidemic in The United States right now and the fast food takeover by large chains is a major cause.
One section of Lasn’s book stands out as being particularly important because it explains the nature of The United States’ economic system. It is a fairly simple system growth depends on increasing one thing, gross domestic product. The problem is that life is not this simple, and GDP does not factor in any externalities, environmental degradation, or social injustice. There is something wrong when a war or an oil spill is considered good for the economy. This growth and consumption needs to be regulated, between the signs of excess pollution and waste this is clearly an unsustainable path. Corporations cannot be given free reign to grow and continue to pollute the earth as well as people’s minds with advertising. There is a branch of economics that considers the environment and uses a better indicator, this should be incorporated in the country’s policy.
I am writing as a concerned citizen for the public’s livelihood and steward to the environment. This letter is not about deforestation and poverty, or Nike and McDonalds. It is about those things but it is important to consider the big societal picture. There is only so much time before American culture withers to microwave meals and corporate-branded schools. Trying to solve the issue of media literacy ad the environment is a hard political battle but something needs to be done about the corporations running the country.
Sincerely,
Paul Smith
The Corporation
ReplyDeleteThere were certainly a few surprises from the film as well as subjects already covered in this class and others. The data on wages for factory workers in Asia were a little surprising. I already know how profitable outsourcing is for large corporations but the numbers are still staggering to hear. The two college students selling themselves as billboards for advertising was extremely agitating. Not only were they both ignorant on how marketing works and it’s cultural flaws they continued to throw themselves out in the media, conducting interviews and enjoying every minute of it. My one question from the film would be how did American economic policy become so wrapped up in respecting corporations as human beings and giving them so much freedom. I thought the old propaganda scenes were well placed in the film and they did explain the legal history of corporations but there was something missing. I was hopeful after watching and listening to the business people who were able to create a more sustainable corporation. I think more personal businesses that are more sustainable will grow and I hope to be part of one someday. Michael Moore’s quote at the end of the film was very intriguing and true “A greedy man will hang himself if he can make a profit for it.” This sums up the documentary for me very nicely.
Dear Facebook,
ReplyDeleteOur modern society is losing track of what writing truly is. The youth of America is constantly texting and communicating through instant messaging platforms. Instant messaging creates short lingo and often causes the user to lose understanding of what English really is. Our youth currently has a problem with writing. Writing is more than just spurring thoughts off the top of one’s mind, it shouldn’t sound as if it is everyday talk. Sadly, as seen in Culture Jam, by Kalle Lasn, we are constantly consumed by a technological world. The technological world takes over our life and very few realize there is different life away from a screen and material possessions.
Our current society isn’t meant to be stuck in front of screens, yet at the same time our natural survival techniques make this possible. Music videos, such as aired on MTV, play at well over sixty events per minute. The huge change in events triggers our fight or flight response, which traditionally was used for us to survive and run from predators, but today keeps us stuck in front of our televisions and computers. (15) It isn’t our natural fault that we are stuck in front of screens, but our true place is in nature. Only in the last century has technology truly emerged, and with it our views of what is right and wrong have become skewed.
A problem with today’s media obsessed culture is how we believe what we hear and see in a recording or picture more than what is truly real. We see movie stars on TV and in magazines and believe if we look like they do we will be rich, famous, and fall in love with someone else attractive (18). This has caused girls from as young as five to grown women to no wish they were thinner, but believe they should be. About half of all North American women are on some sort of diet, and about 60% of adolescent girls and young women (75). Our society does not look around and realize that everyone around them isn’t what is in a magazine or on TV. Very few realize that there are plenty of successful and well loved people that are not airbrushed, anorexic, surgery obsessed, models.
Our largest inability is one of speaking the truth. Humans have a hard time taking action about what bothers them. A problem eventually reaches a point where it is either rebelled against or turned into a normality. Currently we spend about a quarter of our waking lives in front of a television (112), wear brand logos, and breathe and eat their pollution, yet at the same time very few complain or change (141). In order for change to happen we must break away from the corporate leash and free ourselves from all commercialism.
I never considered myself a large consumer of media yet at the same time I bought into it. I have a cell phone and text message friends and go to the movies from time to time, however the worst thing I ever did was join Facebook. I have spent hours on Facebook updating my profile, looking at pictures and profiles, and talking to friends. At the same time however I could’ve called my friends or visited them in person. True friends I will remember and stay in touch with, that number of 543 friends I have does not reflect who my friends are. I have deleted my Facebook and I am living the opposite of what Facebook promises, a more connected and fuller life. My life is richer without it and I plan to keep it that way, therefore I would like to say what downshifter like I live by and is never advertised: “the promise of three things: more time, less stress and more balance.” (171).
Enjoying the peaceful sun and the fresh air!
T-rev Adams
The Corporation-part 2
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, I am appalled by the fact that life forms can be patented! I knew about this before the film because I do a lot of research on industrialized animal agriculture and found out that Monsanto was trying to patent a breed of genetically modified pig a couple of years ago. The ethical issues here should be obvious, and the threats to biodiversity are dangerously scary.
I had no idea that news stations can lie, cover up, and fabricate stories as much as they want. I was certainly being ignorant, but it didn’t occur to me that they are nothing more than a business. They show what sells, nothing more and nothing less. What really bothers me is how the public completely absorbs what they see on the news and make a point to watch it religiously. That is quite frightening because their opinions are completely in the hands of a corporation. Even my own parents are completely brainwashed by the television. When the swine flu was blown out of proportion, they bought hand sanitizer. When Michael Jackson died, of course they had to watch the documentaries about his life. When natural disaster struck Haiti this winter, it was likely the first time many Americans had even heard if that country (since it is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, and therefore doesn’t fit in with the capitalist regime).
When I watched to segment about the World Bank charging the impoverished people of Bolivia for WATER, I became, once again, outraged with the World Bank! Water is a human right; all people should have access to the clean water that they need for survival. Period. I’m not sure I have ever heard good things about the World Bank. The last time I was reading about that particular institution it was about how they essentially force impoverished tropical countries to grow food to sell cheaply to places like the United States. I mean come on, did anyone ever wonder why we have such unlimited access to bananas when the people in the countries where they grow are starving?
And finally, words of hope that I love to hear which were in the film: “The People, united, will never be defeated!”
The Corporation:
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that American companies found ways to stay in Nazi Germany and do business as well as do business over doing what is right for their country. That was significantly surprising for me and shocking. (Guess that answers my surprise, agitation, and significant new learning all in one, just kidding.)
I am constantly agitated by undercover marketing. I realize it more and more after seeing that film. Marketing is everywhere, yet at the same time I realize certain people are probably been given free products to just use and keep around so they can be marketing tools.
The Monsanto news special was a new learning experience for me. I was not very aware of how things were aired and I learned just how much power the broadcasters and large corporations have.
I wish I could find the film hopeful as well as helpful, however mostly I am only find the helpfulness. I believe in order to prevent and change some of the overconsumption and negative trends in the U.S. we must first understand the problem to the best of our abilities. By watching this movie I learned a lot about how companies go about their manipulating and ways.
I will mostly use this information to help bring up stories I heard, such as underpaid child workers making clothes that claim a donation will go to children. Another is the Fox Monsanto story and the American businesses such as IBM in Nazi Germany. I find these stories to be most interesting and I mention stories like these to my friends. By educating them maybe the word will spread to a few more ears and then maybe more.
Letter:
ReplyDeleteTo Walmart executives or whoever it may concern,
My name is Zach Williams and I have recently been enlightened with a new look at what you do and how you do it. I would like to start off by saying how disgusted and appalled I am that such classy people such as yourselves have such low morals that you will do literally anything to make an extra dollar. Sure money CAN make life easier but at what cost? I am writing this letter in the hopes that I can change your mind on how you conduct your businesses so that we may live in a world that values people for who they are and not what they buy or look like.
After reading the book Culture Jam several issues stuck out that pertain to corporations exactly like yourself. The name Walmart is a brand name just like NIKE or COCA COLA however these names are cover ups that are secretly eroding our country from the inside. But guess what? Even you can be consume by the monster that is the brand name America. "This multi-trillion dollar brand" (xii) is the mother load composed of all corporations that have cast a dark and potentially fatal shadow over us. You are consuming all of the smaller businesses until only you remain. This is convenient for many people that they do not realize what is about to come.
The people that own these businesses can't help but buy what stores like yours have to offer due to variety and price however the products that they themselves carry are sure to be of better quality. You should be ashamed with your advertisements. Almost everyday I see some flyer with coupons in the newspaper for Walmart and the great savings but all you are doing is getting the chip you have embedded in peoples already clustered minds to track to your store to make an extra dollar. Your store is full of robots walking around programmed to purchase what you want them to and they don't even know how badly they have been duped.
Your probably whispering "Oh no not another complainer" but I have news for you. Complaining and diminishing is the thing of the past. The future is change. There is hope for change thanks to a new breed of people. They are a "growing band of people who have given up on the American dream" (112). Through reading about these people I have realized that instead of chipping away at the pyramid from the base I'm going to knock it down from the top. Instead of ridiculing people for not recycling we will "give the courage to let go of their old orthodoxies' and to 'bring revolutionary consciousness and contestation back into the modern world by standing up and boldly announcing to the world 'We will wreck the world" (121).
Now I am not saying that we are going to come burn down your building or kill someone. I am simply saying that you need to seriously reconsider the ways in which you conduct your business. It's your wife and your children that will suffer from the take over of corporate America. Help them help you. It's better for everyone. Sure you'll make a little less money but isn't a nice subaru just as good as a 7series BMW? Not for your image but for the ground on which you stand on it is. Or maybe you'd like to be looking good on your tumble into space once the planet which you are destroying through greed and corruption is gone.
Corporation:
ReplyDeleteSurprise: The end of the video really took me by surprise because after slamming down the current situation with America it shed a little bit of light on the future saying that there is in fact hope. It hits you hard with constant information about issues here and problems there and then right at the end gives the mood swing and finishes with a lighter but still heavy air. I did not see that coming.
Agitation: I was appalled at the fact that media companies such as FOX covered up certain stories. I always thought that FOX was far too media induced however this is just repulsive. The corporations are higher than the people that report our news. Have I been watching lies?
New Learning: The fact that these corporations had faces and were considered people blew my mind. It's weird and strange to think about going to a store and have it being like I'm going to visit one of my friends. This is obviously the sense of feeling that they want to bestow upon anyone lonely person they can find. Come here I'm your friend! Shop here!
Question: How can I convince people to change? After reading Culture Jam and watching this video I have found new ways in which I myself can make a difference but how about others? I could show this movie to everyone I know but that wouldn't even make a dent. We need to find a way to spread this knowledge without getting frustrated? It is incredibly difficult to get people to change there old ways but we can do it.
Dear Kalle Lasn,
ReplyDeleteWhen I finished your book I had a lot of questions that I felt went unanswered. I wonder why I've never heard of the Situationist movement before, or the events that took place in French towns and cities in 1968.
But more important than my questions about the past, are my questions about the future. The book was written over ten years ago, yet I often struggle to see many improvements since then.
Principally, what I think you missed, but not due to any fault but timing, was the rapid commercialization of the internet. Social Networking sites I suspect would've been the bane of your existence in particular.
After asking and criticizing on the book alone for a while I decided to look up the Ad Busters website. I was pleasantly discovered that TV turnoff week has been re-titled as digital detox week and encourages people to give up all screens for a week.
I liked Culture Jam very much and beyond my questions I just hope that you keep up your high standard of work.
While watching the second half of The Corporation I was really struck by Michael Moore's explanation that the corporations didn't care about anything but profit so they'll put him up on the screen just so he can put them down. It's a chilling construction that would have such a hand in its own potential demise.
I'm always upset when I see the banal reaction those in the highest power have towards the violent protesters.
I'm surprised by the positive attitude the carpet CEO had and I realized that while the people do have some fault, the true flaw lies in the system not individuals.
The ending of the film isn't very satisfying in my opinion. It's a tad grim and shifting the scope from a person to a legal entity was a dramatic reveal. I see now that governments should somehow regulate these entities more effectively. The Corporation, not Cars or Agriculture and the biggest cause of global warming.