Culture Jam Part 3, The Corporation Part 2

Culture Jam Letter

I decided to write a letter to President Obama on the "true cost meme" by providing a basic logical argument for sound economics and bringing about effective change.

Dear President Obama,

You came to Washington with an ultimatum for change. As a university student and supporter, I strongly believe that you are committed to this initiative and are doing your best to achieve it. You are clearly aware that this is a country with many problems left to be solved and are intent on addressing as many as you can while in office. I applaud your efforts and understand the extreme difficulties of the position that you have earned. I write to you to simply suggest an avenue for profound change that you have yet to propose.
During your presidency, the economy has been a major problem that has gotten in the way of all your other efforts. It’s clear that there are many issues with our economic process and I suggest a large action to address this rather than small regulatory changes. You focus on growing our economy, but our economy has long been growing without improving our standard of living. I suggest that you address the issue of valuing economic development over continuing growth. Your economic advisors believe that growth is the only answer, while that simply just means more spending, not better lives for Americans.
Your chief economic advisor, Larry Summers, has said that he perceived no limits to growth in the future. I would like to remind you that economics is not grounded in the real world. New resources will not magically appear when we run out of our current ones. Our economy encourages us to “shop ‘til you drop” rather than conserving our resources and living meaningful lives. Accumulating more stuff may lead to an expanding GDP, but not a better America. If you want your presidency to stop encouraging excessive consumerism, you should consider a change in policy.
I would like to introduce you to ecological economics. It’s not some kind of hippy economics, but rather a system that makes sense, compared to our absurd, disconnected economics today. It values positive change in our environment, economy, and society, while devaluing damage, providing an accurate depiction of how to improve as a nation, rather than just attempting to grow out of our problems. Instead of the inaccurate measure of the GDP, the Gross Progress Index actually shows our progress as a nation. Finally, the economy would reflect progressive aspirations for the country, rather than endless spending and exploited resources.
You have the power to change America by even just beginning to accept this new form of economics that makes sense to the average American. It’s the kind of economics that doesn’t make the GDP rise when there’s an oil spill or a new cancer diagnosis. It's the kind of economics that America can trust and understand. I believe at this point in time most citizens have doubt in the economic system and would like to see it changed to a more logical system. Please meet with an ecological economist and at least hear them out. Their proposals will lead to a rational economy and a brighter future.

Sincerely,

Ben Carlson


The Corporation

Surprise: The surprise for me was the revelation that in this country broadcasting entirely fake news is not illegal. The instance of the Fox rBGH segment was ridiculous. I think this one example of manipulation of the news by sponsors shows how much we need truly free media. It’s a good reminder of how much our regular news sources might be leaving out or falsifying to suit the needs of their sponsors.

Agitation: My agitation was in the segment on business with the Nazi’s. The involvement of companies, such as GM, IBM, and Coca-Cola was despicable. I think it was a great reminder that corporations are, by nature, not our friends. As the film said the CEO may be nice and even develop some social responsibility, but it is very rare that a corporation has a positive impact on the world, simply because of the way it functions. Profits matter above all else. Corporations must controlled and regulated by us, because when allowed to do as they please they reward themselves at considerable cost to others.

Learning: I guess the main thing that I learned from the film is that the corporations are the “high priests” of the world. I think everyone knows that many corporations are big and powerful, but to realize that they really control the world is quite eye-opening. They are global entities, causing problems around the world in order to increase profits. I think most people either don’t realize that corporations are so powerful or exactly understand why that’s such a problem.

Hopeful? I did think that the film tried very hard to end on a high note. I especially liked Michael Moore’s bit about corporations selling the rope to hang them. The film was overall very dark and showed the world in a way that people don’t usually see it. It exposed the immense power of the corporation and how that is damaging. The ending was necessary to bring about some sense of optimism that we can get things back to the way they’re meant to be. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible and that’s why I think it’s worth the fight. Besides, just attempting to bring down corporate America and consumer culture seems to be a pretty exciting endeavor to me.

How Use Info?
I will use the information from this film in my own life by examining the way corporations affect us in what I see around me. I have learned to be very skeptical of corporate power and recognize its control around the world. I will be recognize and analyze my own involvement with corporations and their impact on myself and others. When I see the instances of corporate abuse and control, I will share my views around me who may not have the same perspective or knowledge as me. I will also continue to learn about these issues and how to become involved in the fight for power over the corporation.

The Corporation Part 1, Culture Jam Part 2

"The Corporation"

I think people aren’t familiar with the history of corporations rise to power. They just see it the way it is today and accept that that’s the way things are. Corporations have amassed huge amounts of power over time in the name of providing people with jobs and helping the economy. Don’t mess with business, that affects people's jobs and lives. What started as a more efficient way of doing business and increasing production has evolved in what might be a logical path to privatization, manipulative marketing, externalizing costs, inequality, law breaking, and manufactured wants. AAarggh! It’s time for the corporation to lose its "humanity', since it has thoroughly demonstrated its lack of responsibility through its psychopathic action. There are many outrageous crimes against society that have become commonplace from big biz. Maybe the discontent can be brought to a point of action.

"Culture Jam"

1.I have come to realize that this book is exposing the net causes of the problems in the world that I worry about. It’s bringing together my fragmented knowledge to show the big picture. I always feel the need to trace problems back to the source and now I feel like I’m finally getting to the real, direct causes and solutions. It is looking to change the big picture so that all these issues and problems can be solved as a byproduct of this massive cultural change. It’s even broken down into the five memes that would totally turn society on its head, in a good way. So many problems would be immediately on the fast track being solved. Forget being an environmentalist, culture jamming may be the way to the real progress I want to see.
2.“Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul”. This line really struck me, because I feel like I’m amassing all this knowledge and frustration without doing anything with it. I just feel the need to take action, wishing I could just step in boxing ring and throw some punches to solve the problems and release the frustration. So I resolve to start doing small things. Quitting Facebook definitely feels good (and my persuasive speech for my public speaking class is on the same topic). So maybe that’s my start, and I'll work on figuring out step two.
3.Spontaneity. This was a new idea for me, fighting the “spectacle” through spontaneous action. This method for salvation used by Truman and the Buddha must be worth considering. It’s a bit abstract and I’m not sure I totally grasp it. I guess its about living in the moment, breaking out of the trance, and acting freely, not as the spectacle want you to.
4.I liked the line about if life sucks, then fix a corner of it. This phrase really reminded me of how pointless it is to be pessimistic or cynical. Things might be bad, but they can always be made better. I think this is the kind of attitude I will need to keep if I’m going to be working in the environmental field to remind myself that it’s not an effort in vain.
5. I also found the line interesting about "we will wreck this world" and rebuilding on the rubble of our old culture. It's clear, we need massive changes, but at times the book started to take a destructive tone. It reminds me of "Fight Club", where they essentially resort to terrorism to make their changes in society. I think the author doesn't really mean physical destruction and ruin, but more that the changes will totally destroy our corporate and consumer dominated culture.

My question is, how does this fit into politics? Culture jamming could be a whole political platform. Culture jammers have lost faith in the left, so who do they go to?

Culture Jam, Part 1

As I continue to ponder my two week old decision to leave Facebook, the "reality index" offered by Culture Jam really stuck out to me. How much of our lives are real and authentic versus the virtual world of the media? I find the difference in phrasing to be hugely important. Spending a lot of time in media land might not be terrible, but how about spending a large portion of our life there? It becomes much more clear when we think in terms of wasting a life, rather than just in hours and minutes.
I was struck by the line about how in America you “can’t speak out against the sponsors”. This really brought together my understanding of how corporate power actually controls America through the media. The idea of advertisers censoring content is very disturbing, but that’s what happens in all our major media sources. It’s no wonder that we have become a culture of consumption and corporation, when all the discussion brings no challenge to this destiny.
I really liked the metaphor of American consumer culture as a cult. We are what we see on TV, we join brands “fraternities”, and most striking “all dream the same dream”. This is the line that I have thought over most. Almost without exception, people want to grow rich so they can buy a lot of stuff. This really connected to me. How many people do I know that don’t feel the need for more money or more stuff? No one comes to mind. We always need more stuff, but yet in reality that doesn’t even make us happier. The media then just continues to perpetuate this illusion. To paraphrase, we are consuming the essence of our society, communities, environment, families, because we can’t let go of this sour “dream”. To me, this is an increasingly damaging force that undermines positive efforts in our society. It’s clear that it’s time for a revolution against corporations and consumption and even though these forces are even more powerful then ever before, just in this class alone, I see a great potential for redefining the American dream.