The Corporation (2003)
The Corporation, a 2003 Canadian documentary, directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott, dissects the modern business corporation with surgical precision. Written by University of British Columbia law professor Joel Bakan and filmmaker Harold Crooks, the film peels back the layers of corporate behavior, revealing a complex and often troubling reality.
The Corporate Persona
- Origins and Evolution:
- The documentary traces the corporation’s journey from its early days as a government-chartered institution with specific public functions to its current status as a dominant global force.
- It examines the legal transformation that granted corporations most of the rights of a person, including the controversial concept of corporate personhood.
- Corporate Psychopathy:
- Drawing inspiration from the DSM-IV, the film assesses corporations as if they were individuals.
- Robert D. Hare, a psychology professor, compares the profile of a profitable business corporation to that of a clinically diagnosed psychopath. The parallels are striking.
- Themes Explored:
- The tragedy of the commons: How corporate pursuit of profit often harms the collective good.
- The military-industrial complex warned against by Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Suppression of investigative news stories (e.g., Bovine Growth Hormone).
- The role of corporations in historical events (e.g., IBM and the Holocaust).
- Corporate social responsibility and limited liability.
Impact and Legacy
- The Corporation won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and sparked conversations worldwide.
- It features interviews with insiders and critics, including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore.
- The film challenges viewers to question the power wielded by corporations and advocate for change.
In a world where corporations shape economies, politics, and societies, The Corporation serves as a wake-up call—a reminder that behind the logos and boardrooms lie complex entities with profound impact.
