The Corporation: Questions

1) What is the principal purpose of this documentary?

            I believe that this documentary has three main purposes. Firstly, it serves to educate the public about the huge amount of power corporations have attained within the past sixty years. Secondly, it is a warning for those who have placed their trust in massive corporations and continue to support them through their choice of purchases. Finally, I think it is a call to action to all of us who are aware of corporate irresponsibility and unethical practices (specifically in environmental and human rights abuses—most of which occur in third-world countries).

2) What does the film critique? How do you know that?

           The film critiques large corporations who have overstepped the boundaries of ethical behavior. I can see this throughout the documentary, as the majority of people interviewed, scientific studies, and statistics given throw a very negative light on this category of corporations.

3) What methods did the filmmaker use to increase public awareness about corporate responsibility and affect people’s beliefs and behavior?

            The filmmaker used an assortment of personal accounts, factual data and statistics, and emotion-evoking visual evidence to shape the viewer’s final impression with corporate responsibility (or lack thereof). The typical large, American corporation is proven to ignore the harm their merchandise and production inflict on the environment, shown to disregard the fact that much of their raw material is derived unsustainably, exposed as a threat to human rights in many areas of the world, and ultimately diagnosed with psychopathy.

4) Which methods of theirs did you think were most effective in supporting their position on corporate responsibility? Why?

            I personally found the personal accounts regarding corporate human rights abuses the most effective method in regards to supporting their position on corporate responsibility and convincing the viewer. This was, quite simply, because of the shock and disgust they aroused in me. There were three pieces of proof that struck me as most vile. First was the fact that huge corporations are actually able to claim personhood under the fourteenth amendment (which was originally passed to protect freed slaves in the late nineteenth century) and are now able to abuse their personhood status freely without the repercussions a true human person would receive. Subsequently, I was disturbed to find that both Coca-Cola and IBM sold or leased their products to the Nazis during the Second World War and recovered massive profits just after it ended. Finally, the Monsanto chemical company’s many exploitations—especially their current selling of the cancer-causing bovine growth hormone Posilac in the U.S. and seeds with ‘suicide genes’ in African countries (as well as DDT and Agent Orange poisons in the past) horrified me the most. When I realized that more than a quarter of the milk consumed in the U.S. contains a deadly carcinogen I literally thanked God that I live in Canada, which has stricter food safety regulations.

5) Did you have any issues with this documentary? What were some parts that you did not agree with, or question? Why?

            I agreed with virtually every point made in the documentary, but have one small qualm. During the inquiry concerning Monsanto’s Posilac drug, the only news corporation being targeted and criticized for corruption was Fox News. I understand that in this particular case Fox was the only news corporation involved, but I wish that the documentary had a wider range of viewpoints for a more balanced conclusion. I am positive that other news sources are also guilty of corruption and/or fraud (CNN, ABC etc.) in regards to corporate connections. In short, I am tired of hearing about how everyone hates Fox.

6) Describe another film you have watched that had an impact on your values. How and why did that happen?

            Another film I have watched that had an impact on my values was The Passion Of The Christ. It was essentially the story of Jesus Christ’s suffering and brutal death by crucifixion after betrayal by Judas Iscariot. The movie’s strikingly accurate, graphic depiction of Christ sacrificing Himself for humanity changed my outlook on life. Even though it took place thousands of years ago, the movie demonstrated the huge significance of the event through unadulterated accuracy (basically, blood). After watching it, I came to the realization that, although this life may seem incredibly important, morality and our destination in the afterlife are far more so.