This 39page guide for the corporation by joel bakan includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 6 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The new corporation by joel bakan overdrive rakuten. They support their arguments with case studies, vignettes, and interviews some of which are. And bakan doesnt mean this in any kneejerk liberal way. Today, it is a vivid, dramatic and pervasive presence in all our lives. Usa today the corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by joel bakan lisa kemmerer calls corporations to account under the guidance of joel bakan. The pathological pursuit of profit and power discusses the book and the documentary with journalist marc glassman. Joel bakans book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporations pathological pursuit of profit and power. The pathological pursuit of profit and power 9780743247467 by bakan, joel and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. His work examines the social, economic, and political dimensions of law, and he has published in leading legal and social science journals as well as in the popular press. Joel bakan a century and a half after its birth, the modern business corporation, an artificial person made in the image of a human psychopath, now is seeking to remake real people in its image. Apr 15, 20 the points of view presented in the mainstream media are quite different from the actual realities associated with business corporations.
Noam chomsky and joel bakan on the psychopathic propaganda. The corporation film analysis the corporation was based on a book written by joel bakan. Canada year 2003 languages english spanish production co. Bakan authored the corporation, a book analyzing the evolution and modernday behavior of corporations from a critical perspective.
Noam chomsky and the media, teams up with codirector jennifer abbott and writer joel bakan to examine the farreaching repercussions of. All content in this area was uploaded by joel bakan on jul 11, 2014. The documentary examines the modernday corporation. In this complex, exhaustive and highly entertaining documentary, mark achbar, codirector of the influential and inventive manufacturing consent. Thats the chilling diagnosis that the canadian documentary the corporation issued in 2004 for our modern day business organizations. In the corporation, author joel bakan paints the worlds largest and most powerful companies as greedy psychopaths whose relentless drive for profits is destroying lives, damaging communities, and endangering the planet as a whole. The pathological pursuit of profit and powerby joel bakanbuy in canada usawith lucidity and verve, expert knowledge and incisive analysis, joel bakan unveils the history and the character of a devilish instrument that has been created and is nurtured by powerful modern states. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The corporation mark achbar, jennifer abbott and joel bakan, 2004 is a canadian documentary about the institution of the corporation. The corporation is a cogent, informationrich and artfully crafted probe of the most powerful business entity of modern times. It brings to the fore the social injustices that corporate companies commit in their business ventures. Joel conrad bakan born 1959 is a canadian lawyer and writer. The documentary is based on a book written by joel bakan titled the corporation. He is a former rhodes scholar and a former law clerk to the chief justice of the canadian supreme court.
The corporation documentary summary analysis jotted lines. The corporation book by joel bakan official publisher. A century and a half after its birth, the modern business corporation, an artificial person made in the image of a human psychopath, now is seeking to remake real people in its image. His bestselling book the corporation was made into an awardwinning documentary.
That raises a number of questions, which i address in subsequent chapters. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Born in lansing, michigan, joel bakan moved in 1970 with his parents to vancouver, british columbia, canada, where he graduated from eric hamber secondary high school. Start studying joel bakan the corporation s rise to dominance. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the worlds dominant economic institution.
The pathological pursuit of profit and power, joel bakan. The pathological pursuit of profit and power new ed by joel bakan isbn. In this engaging narrative, legal theorist joel bakan contends that the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic personality. Corporate responsibility never existed in the first place. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, by joel bakan coproducers cari green, nathan neumer, tom shandel commissioning editor, tvo rudy buttignol associate producers joel bakan and dawn brett. The transnational institute went back to the writer of the film and accompanying book, joel bakan, a law professor at the university of british columbia, to find out how he views the corporation today.
The pathological pursuit of profit and power, this 26awardwinning documentary explores a corporation s inner workings, curious history. The modern corporation, according to law professor joel bakan, is singularly selfinterested and unable to feel genuine concern for others in any context. The corporation is a canadian documentary film written by joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, joel bakan asks, if corporations are legally humans, what kind of human are they. A fast clip shows the interiors of an office building. Joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. The corporation is an institution a unique structure and set of imperatives that direct actions of people within it. Joel bakan the corporations rise to dominance flashcards. Chapter six in the corporation by joel bakan test record inspection during the 20th 100, many changes in the saving and the planetary grocery deliver been completed.
The corporation film analysis essay 1736 words 7 pages. The corporation documentary summary analysis jotted. Bakan does such a good job of creating awareness that the corporation cant help but be a call to action. The corporation documentary written by joel bakan and directed by mark achbar and jennifer abbott shows they are up to one thing in producing this material to breach into the politics of the pursuit of power and profit of businesses today. We have, over the last three hundred years constructed a remarkably efficient wealthcreating machine, but it is now out of control. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies. Corporations are createdand mandatedto make money, regardless of results that affect the world, its own industry, its labor force, or even its managers, writes canadian law professor joel bakan. Kettlewell the beggar king and the secret of happiness. The corporation is unlikely to be the first institution to defy history. Start studying exam2387 joel bakan the corporation s rise to dominance. Joel bakan is an author, filmmaker and a professor of law at the university of british columbia whose work examines the social, economic, and political dimensions of law. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, joel. The pathological pursuit of profit and power by creator creator narration written by written by.
We all pay a price for the corporation s flawed character, he argues, with devastating consequences that include the deadly cloud of lethal chemicals that killed. Title the corporation directors achbar, mark abbott, jennifer country of prod. Published in 2004, the corporation, by legal scholar joel bakan, demonstrates that corporations often misbehave because it is in their nature to do so. Legal scholar joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia. With lucidity and verve, joel bakan unveils the history and the character of a devilish instrument that has been created and is nurtured by powerful modern states. Pdf the corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and. Bakan is claiming that corporation is pathological institution, since it only pursues its own selfinterests, no matter what consequences will be. The inspiration for the film that won the 2004 sundance film festival audience award for best. We are all its potential victims, which is why we must all understand how the corporate form makes it so difficult to control its abuses. Like the church, the monarchy and the communist party in other times and places, the corporation is todays dominant institution.
A former rhodes scholar and law clerk to chief justice brian dickson of the supreme court of canada, bakan has law degrees from oxford, dalhousie, and harvard. As incisive as eric schlossers bestselling fast food nation, as rigorous as joseph e. As a result, i argue, the corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great power it wields over people and societies. Written by joel bakan with narration written by harold crooks and mark achbar narrator mikela j. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, author, filmmaker and law professor joel bakan traced the corporations rise to dominance, right back to its origins. The tvo logo appears on the lower right corner of the screen. The corporation, according to joel bakan, is the monster that can swallow civilization greedy, exploitive, and unstoppable. First tracing the corporation s rise to dominance, he then makes a series of claims about its modern existence. The pathological pursuit of profit and power comes this deeply informed and unflinching look at the way corporations have slyly rebranded themselves as socially conscious entities ready to tackle societys problems, while ceo compensation soars, income inequality is at alltime highs, and democracy sits in a. The corporation is a 2003 canadian documentary film written by university of british columbia law professor joel bakan, and directed by mark achbar and. The corporation by joel bakan summary what you will learn.
In lucid and engaging prose, bakan lays bare a litany of immoral corporate actions and documents corporate power grabs dressed up as social initiatives. Law professor joel bakan talks about the corporate takeover of society. Explored through specific examples, this film shows how and why the modernday corporation has rapaciously pressed itself into the dominant institution of our time, posing big questions about what must be done if we want a equitable and sustainable world. Joel bakan zeitgeist films 2004 feb 23 23 pages press kit. This essential truth lies at the heart of joel bakan s argument. It examines from the ground up how corporations have come to dominate our modern world and why the structure of the corporation has lead to abuses of resources, people and the environment in the pursuit of profit. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, author, filmmaker and law professor joel bakan traced the corporation s. The independent this fine book was virtually begging to be written. The corporation is farenheit 911 for people who think. Reaction paper on the documentary called the corporation. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book was written during the making of the corporation cocreated with mark achbar and formed the basis of the research and writing for the film. Wharton school of business more than a decade after the corporation started a global conversation about the modern business corporation, bestselling author and scholar joel bakan is now working on. Writer 1 credit 2003 the corporation documentary based on the book the corporation.
Author joel bakan says parents should demand accountability from corporations by ann douglas special to the star wed. The pathological pursuit of profit and power, and is made by the team comprising mark achbar and jennifer abbott. The book joel bakan s book is a brilliantly argued account of the corporation s pathological pursuit of profit and power. The film, cowritten by ubc law professor joel bakan, argues that if a corporation is indeed a legal personas it is seen in the eyes of the law in much of the western world. Kettlewell the beggar king and the secret of happiness compare and contrast of the historical. Inspired by joel bakans eponymous book, the films premise is that, since the corporation has been given the rights of a legal person, we can evaluate what type of person it is. The corporation is a no compromise look at the rise of the corporation and the growth of its important as a structure in society. Based on joel bakan s soontobepublished book, one hundred and fifty years ago, the corporation was a relatively.
The corporation by joel bakan 2842 words essay example. The corporate legal mandate, to pursue profit on behalf of shareholders, impels corporations to take any action, including callous, antisocial. It is a documentary film that looks at the history of corporation and follows them up until present day to illustrate their dominance in society. The pathological pursuit of profit and power bakan, joel on. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends the modern business corporation is created by law to function like a psychopathic. Published in 2004, it was made into a film the corporation the same year and won 25 international awards. The corporation the pathological pursuit of profit and power.
An eminent law professor and legal theorist, bakan contends that the corporation is created by law to function much like a psychopathic personality whose destructive behavior, if left unchecked, leads to scandal and ruin. A groundbreaking and provocative look at the dominant institution of our time the corporation. Joel bakan interest, regardless of the often harmful consequences it might cause to others. Eminent canadian law professor and legal theorist joel bakan contends that todays corporation is a pathological institution, a dangerous possessor of the great. The book inspired a feature documentary film, the corporation, written by bakan and cocreated with mark achbar, which won numerous awards, including best foreign documentary at the sundance film festival, joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator. Joel bakan is a professor of law at the university of british columbia, and an internationally renowned legal scholar and commentator. He persuasively argues that corporations are pathological to the core, spurred by tradition and legal precedent to ignore all goals except maximizing profits.