Transcript The Corporation - Jassir

The Corporation
Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott, & Joel Bakan
Bibliotherapy
SPED 620
Natascha Jassir
OBJECTIVE
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To identify ethical issues arising from
business, its regulations and
environment.
To provide the conceptual frameworks for
analysing these issues.
To encourage students to be open to new
ideas, to develop original solutions and to
think as globalize manager or businessperson.
Grade Level &
Time Period
This lesson is developed for high school students
from 10th to 12th grade or college in Business,
Economics, English, Ethics or Social Studies class.
I will specifically use it in a unit about ethics and
globalization I am working on in my business class
along with the English class teacher. Time would
have already been spent developing a sense of
classroom community so that students would feel
safe discussing their points of view and feelings as
well as working in small groups.
The time period for this particular activity will be
about a month and a half. The entire unit will take
approximately 20 periods.
Materials
Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel
Bakan. (2004). The corporation, Canada,
A Zetigeist Films Release, 247 CENTRE ST
• 2ND FL • NEW YORK • NY 10013
Synopsis
THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular
rise of the dominant institution of our time. Footage from pop
culture, advertising, TV news, and corporate propaganda,
illuminates the corporation's grip on our lives. Taking its legal
status as a "person" to its logical conclusion, the film puts
the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind
of person is it?" Provoking, witty, sweepingly informative, The
Corporation includes forty interviews with corporate insiders
and critics plus true confessions, case studies and strategies
for change are revealed behind-the-scenes tensions and
influences in several corporate and anti-corporate dramas.
Each illuminates an aspect of the corporation’s complex
character. On the other hand, new geographical dimensions
of trade and investment around the world are emerging that
have to be recognized and cannot be ignored.
Themes/Key Concepts
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Corporation
Corporate activity
Psychopath
Corporate life
Corporate Social
Responsibility
Social progress
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Regulations
Ethics
Economic and social
interdependence
among individuals,
corporations and
nations
Impacts of commercial
activity on individuals,
communities and the
environment
Impacts of
globalization
Introductory Activity
Students divide into pairs, interview each other
regarding their parents businesses, and then
introduce their findings to the entire group.
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The teacher assigns readings from one or more
articles related to the themes, and discuss new
business terminology in order to set the tone prior
to showing the film.
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Te teacher will provide students with an overview
of the activities prior to viewing The Corporation so
that they can understand it.
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¿Questions?
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What is the claim or conclusion that the author is
making?
Does the treatment of business reflect society’s
lack of trust in business and its leaders?
Does the content of the documentary simply
“mirror the times”, or the attitudes held towards
business?
Are filmmakers more liberal or radical and thus
critical of the culture in which business works?
Do you think this documentary influence the
attitudes of people towards business and its
leaders?
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In one sentence, provide a definition of
globalization.
Why do you think “The Corporation” has struck a
chord with many people?
Apart from the film’s manipulation of the facts
and its deep bias, does it have any other
significant failings?
According to the film, corporations are by their
nature nasty and rapacious institutions. Do you
agree?
What do you think about the claim that
corporations control the world -- everything
from the food we eat to the political process?
Explain.
Identify two reasons why businesses
want to target students in schools.
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The presence of a corporate spy, Marc
Barry, really astonished me. His
career could be ruined through his
appearance in THE CORPORATION.
Why do you think he did it?
Why do the negative depictions of
business continue even with modern
globalize management styles that
favor more participation by managers
as coaches and mentors rather than
as dictators?
Follow-up Activity
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Students will form groups to construct an
Argument for a Debate following this parameters:
In 1 sentence, describe the issue you are
debating. Be sure to include your position on the
issue for the purpose of the debate (are you for it
or against it)? Give 3 reasons for your position. It
is best to propose or oppose on 3 points (e.g.,
political, economic, social, etc.). This means you
should have 3 reasons for your argument how
they can counter the influence this documentary
is having on society.
Thinking Critically Activities: Students will form
groups of three to analyze the following points,
then they will prepare a news release for the rest
of the group:
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Today people can become brands. And brands can
build cities. And university students can pay for
their educations by shilling on national television
for a credit card company. And a corporation even
owns the rights to the popular song “Happy
Birthday.” How do you feel about this, do you ever
get the feeling it’s all a bit much?
By contrast, the story of Ray Anderson, the CEO of
Interface, is inspiring. Here’s a guy running a
billion-dollar carpet manufacturing company that
has completely changed his mind about a
corporation’s social responsibility. How did you
respond to his story? Explain your reaction.
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One of the film’s central assertions is that corporation’s
directors are legally required to do what is best for
the company regardless of the consequences. That
sounds pretty worrying, doesn’t it? Explain your reaction.
What do you think of the film’s claim that “The Corporation”
is the prototypical psychopath because of what the producers
suggest is its “callous unconcern for the feelings of others”,
“incapacity to maintain enduring relationships”, and “reckless
disregard for the safety of others”? Please explain through
examples if possible.
Research:
Students should visit a business or corporation and choose a
topic to analyze (preferably different to the rest). Then they
shall write a letter with recommendations to the business and
explain how they can counter the influence this documentary
is having on society and specially in their business.
Understanding “Regulation of
…..”
 Students are required to
prepare in groups of three, a
comprehensive PowerPoint
presentation describing and
analysing all regulation related
to one of the following goods
or services:
Automobile Insurance
Electricity
Automobile Rental
Gasoline
Health/Fitness Clubs
Organic Foods
Their analysis must cover all forms of regulation
including
Government
Self-regulation
Individual firm
Industry
Competition
Any other stakeholders
Social (Interest Groups, NGOs)
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The following are the sections that would most
likely be included in your paper:
*A definition/description of the good or service
*A description of the regulation. Some supporting
materials maybe included as appendices; other
materials maybe only referenced.
*Identify and describe the issues related to the
regulation.
*Outline advice to managers in coping with
and/or managing the regulation. Include a one
page “checklist” for managers.
*A conclusion section.
Bibliography
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Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan.
(2004). The corporation film, Canada, A Zetigeist
Films Release, 247 CENTRE ST • 2ND FL • NEW
YORK • NY 10013
The corporation. Educational free teachers
resource. Retrieved February 26, 2005, from
http:// www.thecorporation.com
/index.php?page_id=51
http://tvo.org
http://nologo.org
http://www.globalisationguide.org