putting the j in jjosh

The Corporation – A

A massive documentary that is so full of amazing stories, facts and characters, it probably has about 8 full-length documentaries lurking within it. From the Bolivian riot in Cochabamba over water privatization to the attempt to destroy Roosevelt after the creation of The New Deal to the public indifference over biological patenting. Holy mackerel this film was full of ideas.

Told very simply, in classic talking-head style, this doc sets out to define what a corporation is, a bit of the history, and how modern-day corporations are functioning in today’s world. Needless to say, most of what it has to tell us is pretty harrowing stuff. But it’s full of fascinating, stimulating, outraging, depressing, invigorating stuff as well.

Mostly what this film made me do, (as have several other films, or books, or discussions about the state of the world today) was question: what has to happen for people to start caring about this stuff and really absorbing it? Because to a certain extent this film is preaching to the choir (I imagine). I expect most people who are willing to rent/buy/download a 2 and a half hour documentary called The Corporation are probably already interested in social issues.

So what has to happen, what kind of story has to be told to get an "average" person to connect to some of these difficult truths. I am somewhat heartened by the success of a film like Michael Clayton, but as far as generating social outrage, it’s a bit of a softball. And it’s not enough to show some astounding facts and leave the audience to get mad. I suppose Inconvenient Truth really affected some people, and Michael Moore’s had great success with his style of "I am the everyman and I can’t believe the world is like this!"

Maybe it’s wrapped up in Maslow’s pyramid of needs, and people can’t face these issues that exist outside of them while they still have so many current, direct issues to face on a daily basis, i.e., where am I going to find the money for that housing payment. But no matter what situation people are in, there’s always a need and connection to stories…

So maybe there’s some way to tell these stories so that people get them, the way The Beatles made music that people couldn’t help but get, the way Shakespeare wrote plays that people couldn’t help but get, the way great leaders stimulate action through speeches that people can’t help but get.

I’m glad Maxine and I are doing the small things we’re doing to contribute to the solution — recycle-mania, buying local food, getting humanely raised meats, limiting consumption, some of our work projects.

Not sure where I’m going with this, or what’s coming out of it, but that’s a powerful film to get me so charged up.

Especially as hung over as I was this morning.