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| According to the film, a number of prominent corporations engaged in specific activities that could be construed as political during WW II. Describe the corporations highlighted in the film, and their wartime activities. Drawing on course readings, discuss the different roles of corporations in wars throughout history. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 18 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 19 |
Taking the Right Side |
12:20:09:18 |
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| 2 |
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| The documentary discusses the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, introduced following the civil war in order to protect the rights of recently freed slaves. Using the documentary and your course readings, identify the key events in the development of this Amendment. According to the film, in what ways was the Amendment used differently from its original intent? |
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Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 1 |
What Is a Corporation? |
10:00:00:00 |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
| 3 |
A Legal “Person” |
10:10:53:01 |
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| 3 |
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| Investigate the links between corporations and U.S. historical emergence as an empire. With reference to specific developments such as slavery, and specific corporations such as the British East India Company, outline how the rise of the corporation is associated with processes of colonization. Consider other examples from history and from the contemporary context [e.g., the United Fruit Company, arms and munitions corporations, etc]. How would you describe the role of corporations in empire building? What are the relationships of corporate power to cultural colonization in different historical epochs? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 5 |
Harm to Workers: Sweatshops |
10:18:08:23 |
| 18 |
Expansion Plan |
12:16:08:01 |
| 19 |
Taking the Right Side |
12:20:09:18 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 22 |
Psycho Therapies |
12:37:43:25 |
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| 4 |
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The film illustrates how Roosevelt’s New Deal was seen to conflict with corporate interests.
- How is this conflict discussed in your course readings?
- What other instances appear in your readings that highlight conflicting interests of governmental/social policy versus corporate interest? How were such conflicts reconciled?
- What emerging conflicts of a similar nature are occurring in contemporary society?
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
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| 5 |
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| How does the documentary portray the rise of the modern corporation and its relationship with the enclosure movement in Britain and the early development of parliamentary democracy? How is the rise of the corporation associated with the early stages of the Industrial Revolution? What significant technological developments are connected with these stages and the emergence of the modern corporation? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 1 |
What Is a Corporation? |
10:00:00:00 |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
| 3 |
A Legal “Person” |
10:10:53:01 |
| 10 |
Boundary Issues |
10:56:36:18 |
| 16 |
Advancing the Front |
12:00:00:00 |
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| 6 |
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| The documentary states that corporations were originally chartered to perform a specific task such as building public infrastructure. How were corporations linked with the early development of the national physical infrastructure of the United States and its key industries? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
| 3 |
A Legal “Person” |
10:10:53:01 |
| 4 |
Externalities |
10:15:56:00 |
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| 7 |
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| The film suggests that corporations engage in practices that result in worker exploitation. What role have unions played in addressing these issues in the US and other jurisdictions? Research the history of the relationship between corporations and labor groups. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
| 5 |
Harm to Workers: Sweatshops |
10:18:08:23 |
| 17 |
Unsettling Accounts |
12:05:09:11 |
| 22 |
Psycho Therapies |
12:37:43:13 |
| 23 |
Prognosis |
12:54:28:19 |
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| 8 |
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| What is meant by Fordism and post-Fordism? What was the historical influence of the development of this productive technique? To what extent does the film portray corporations as relying on principles from Fordism? Give specific examples in your response. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 1 |
What Is a Corporation? |
10:00:00:00 |
| 2 |
Birth |
10:06:27:16 |
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| 9 |
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| Research the historical role of several well known ‘captains of industry’ such as Rockefeller, Carnegie and Vanderbilt. How do their business practices relate to the criticisms raised in the film? Compare them to Ray Anderson of Interface Carpet, Anita Roddick of the Body Shop, or Sam Gibara of Goodyear Tire. |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 6 |
The Pathology of Commerce |
10:40:30:06 |
| 7 |
Monstrous Obligations |
10:41:19:08 |
| 8 |
Mindset |
10:46:52:15 |
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| 10 |
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| Discuss significant historical changes in the relationships between the state and government, and corporations. How has the state worked both to organize and support as well as to regulate capitalism? Discuss specific historical examples of conflict between state and corporate interest. Where does concern for public interest fit into these historical tensions? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 10 |
Boundary Issues |
10:56:36:18 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
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| 11 |
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| Explore the history of social movements—whether international or local—that have organized to counter corporate power. What are the different issues discussed in The Corporation? How do those interviewed in the documentary see the tensions between corporate interest vs. public and environmental interest? What are the different organizing strategies used at different historical moments? |
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| Chapter |
Chapter Title |
Scene Reference |
| 5 |
Harm to Workers: Sweatshops |
10:18:08:23 |
| 20 |
Hostile Takeover |
12:26:35:11 |
| 21 |
Democracy Ltd. |
12:29:18:06 |
