I'm not sure about the rest of you but personally, I found Lasn's words quite disturbing (above). In fact, it angers me to an extent. And I only use the word extent because there seems to be nothing that I can do about the situation. Corporations' ability to control and basically manipulate our lives isn't something that I usually put much thought into. This is most likely due to the fact that it never seems to directly affect me. So, as I was reading Culture Jam I couldn't help but notice my emotions heating up on the matter.
Lasn spends the majority of this section talking about "how" our nation developed into what it has with corporations basically controlling our country; even more than the people themselves. However, as I read, I couldn't help but ask myself "why"? Why did this happen? Why has America morphed into a country controlled by monstrous corporations, rather than the people who live here? Lasn definitely hints at the answer throughout the section but never really comes out and talks about it.
I think the answer lies at the "head" of the sketch above: money. There's no doubt that money plays an enormous role in our society not only today, but even since before corporations developed the way they have. According to Lasn, corporations developed and began making big profit following the Civil War. Using one of Lasn's very own words, “plentitude” seems to play a role here. We aren't ever satisfied with what we have. We always want the next best thing. In a corporation's scenario, they will never be satisfied with the money or recognition that they have. They will never be satisfied or truly interested in the well being of a customer. Instead, they want more; creating a monster, as portrayed in the sketch above. Yet, it almost seems inhumane to blame all this on money and greed. Are there other factors that play a role? Is it really true that American's look past the well being of their fellow citizens in an attempt to make, what seems to be a corporation’s main goal, money? Because if that's the truth, I think it might be time to take a step back from this, just like some of my classmates are suggesting taking a step back from technology.
I also found myself asking how and why we have allowed ourselves to get to this point while reading culture jam. Its an awful situation that we have put ourselves in and I am starting to feel like getting out of it would be almost impossible. People are money hungry and as long as making the biggest profit is still our biggest goal, I feel as though nothing will change :/
ReplyDelete"Corporations' ability to control and basically manipulate our lives isn't something that I usually put much thought into."
ReplyDeleteI don't think they want you to put much thought into it...in fact, the idea that most of us simply "consume" what we see without thinking too much about it is likely something they pay thousands of dollars to ensure. Watch. Need. Buy. There is no "thinking" involved.
Money really is everything in today's world..if you don't have money, you can't even buy basic necessities of life such as toothpaste, water, etc. It's sad.
ReplyDeleteEverything in our world revolves around money, and corporations really take this money thing to their advantage. I feel like anyone will do something for a buck nowadays..even if it is extreme.
We don't really think about what we are buying if we truly need it. Remember when we had our group discussion and we were talking about donating to different charities? The same question arrises, where is our money REALLY going?? Is it all going to the charity or is some of it being pocketed?
The way we have developed as a society is what has given money the value it now has. Back then nothing cost as much as it does now. The value of a dollar is dropping rapidly and we can't stop it. A family friends' of mine has a son who is a freshman in high school and he is usually a laid back, pretty comedic kind of kid, and he said something one day that is so true. He said "Capitalism is great until someone has more money than you.." While I found that really humorous, I couldn't help but to agree with him.
ReplyDeleteWe want things that other people don't have so that they envy us. We want to seem important and "above" them in a way. And that way is through being wealthier and having a lot. Once someone has the same things as you then who cares, the social balance only makes us want to create another imbalance so we can feel as if we are better than others. I enjoy the money and power concept you speak of.
I agree with you when you say that it is horrible that we are controlled by corporations. I 100 percent agree. We are being molded and shaped into things that they are sponsoring and they are producing. We are such a consumer nation that they have complete control of us!
ReplyDeleteAs for you saying "they have never effected me personally" I disagree! Corporations have control of things from where we spend our money, how and where we spend it, and even what we are buying. In my sociology class we watched Food Inc. I highly suggest this movie and what it is saying about how corporations even have control over where our food is coming from!