The Corporation

The Corporation is a documentary that critically explores the role of corporations in society and the global economy. It uses the premise that if corporations were legally persons, their behaviors would be seen as psychopathic, because they put profits before all elsebefore people, before societys needs, before the environment: profits are all that matter to the corporation. Yet governments are virtually controlled by them through special interest groups and lobbying firms that represent the interests of these same corporations. They get legislation passed that benefits them through regulatory capture. They muscle out smaller competition and keep the market all for themselves so that they can increase the profits. They benefit from and exploit total war. They are not held responsible (unless slaps on the wrist equate to accountability) when their actions harm the public. Overall, the documentary shows that the corporation is a legal way for people (investors, mainly) to get rich without ever having to justify themselves or their actions to the public. They can hide behind the corporate veil.

The film provides several examples of corporations' behaviors that are grossly problematic. For instance, it shows how corporations regularly engage in exploitative labor practices (especially by off-shoring labor to the Third World, where labor laws barely exist), environmental degradation, lobbying for favorable laws, and manipulating public opinion via advertising and control over media. The documentary shows that the corporation controls or influences virtually every sphere of society: its hand is on all the levers. As a result, this control has devastating effects when it comes to democracy and the politics of public opinion.

The documentary also makes the argument that corporations significantly manipulate public opinion through advertising and media control. This power is not merely about selling products or services; rather, it includes molding consumer behavior, perceptions, and societal norms in ways that align with corporate interests. In other words, the documentary puts forward the idea that corporations are virtually involved in brainwashing the public to buy and love their products. It is a good argument and one that works.

For example, corporations use sophisticated psychological techniques in advertising to shape consumer behavior and to get people to desire their products. Some advertising strategies are designed to create perceived needs where none really exist or existed. This in turn drives demand for new products. As a result, people are not just passive receivers of information but rather are steered towards particular beliefs and behaviors. They become consumers. They live to consume the products the corporations make. There is not really a need for a car that produces 700 horsepowerbut TV commercials create that need through advertising, and car magazines play into a car culture that drives the industry.

This is particularly significant when one considers how public opinion influences policy and legislation. If corporations can sway public opinion through their marketing strategies and media influence, they can indirectly shape policies that favor their interests. That is why an informed citizenry is essential for the proper functioning of a democratic society, and the potential manipulation...…paints all corporations as being huge, evil organizations. Yet corporations do create jobs, some do spur innovation, many contribute to economic growth, and often provide essential goods and services. Some corporations also engage in responsible practices, such as environmental sustainability, fair labor practices, and community development initiatives. They may even leverage their influence to champion social causes or support cultures that mean something to people. Perhaps a more nuanced view of the subject would recognize the duality of corporations. The documentary could have been deeper and maybe less sensational by showing that corporations can be sources of both societal harm and benefit, often simultaneously. That might have provoked more discussion and perhaps less outrage. How to maximize their benefits and minimize their harms would have been a great question to explore. But the film does not go deeply into the subject.

Furthermore, the film does not provide much discussion about the potential solutions to the problems it identifies. It could have explored concepts like stakeholder capitalism, which argues that corporations have responsibilities not just to shareholders, but also to other stakeholders such as employees, customers, communities, and the environment.

Overall, The Corporation is persuasive in its depiction of the problematic behaviors of corporations. It invites viewers to consider the negative impacts of corporate behavior on society and the environment and question the extent to which corporations should be allowed to influence policy and public opinion. However, the documentary could be critiqued for its lack of balance and limited exploration of potential solutions. It shows the dark side…