I Used to be a Corporate Kid

[dotinthesky]

I awoke today thinking of the documentary The Corporation. I saw it yesterday with Chris and my boyfriend. We met outside the Curzon cinema in Soho, in one of London's coldest nights. I was sad to see that Chris's girlfriend Kris wasn't there, but then again I'm glad she didn't get to find out with us that her favourite drink was also Nazi Germany's fave. I always thought there was something funny about Fanta. ;+)

Before the movie, we went to a quiet pub off Leicester Square and talked about forgotten horror movies. I don't think the conversation prepared us for the long hours afterwards of watching video footage of corporate corruption mixed with flashy strikes at McDees, Sears, or even grainy returns to Gandhi walking to the sea to gather salt forbidden by the British Empire. Chris thought the documentary was a mess, a jumble of ideas that would have better suited a 6-episode documentary on television. I think the producers had their hearts in the right place, but perhaps they were a bit too ambitious; they struck at so many corporations, took in so many angles of how corporations are affecting our world negatively, that they didn't leave much space for discussion on how we can do something to revert all the bad that has been done. And the uplifting "world" music in the end did bring the cynical out of me.

By the way, if I was living in America, I would have woken up today and poured all the milk down the drain. The thought of cow puss in the milk because of all the antibiotics injected into American cows was incredibly sick. How true was the story? It was the one piece of the documentary that seemed detailed and incisive - as if there was enough evidence to carry a sole documentary by itself. No wonder Monsanto freaked out and tried to hush the story.

Naomi Klein, Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore, the usual leftist stamp collection faces, were there. Naomi Klein reminded me of women I met in Montreal during my University years. She's still got so many years ahead of her - I think she's going to go far. I'm glad I'll get to hear her talk on Wednesday. It will be a nice continuation of whatever was reborn inside my mind last night.

The Corporation didn't teach me many new things, but it reminded me of decisions I had made a long time ago and which I had slowly been leaving by the wayside. I know that it's hard to abandon the modern way of living, the waste and ignorance... but I'm going to try! If I can write a crappy 200 page horror novel in one month, then I sure learn to see beyond the brand that I consume.

I would recommend you go see The Corporation, if only to instigate discussion in your mind or with your friends. Maybe pick up a book afterwards. Can you believe I never read Chomsky? He looks like my boyfriend's father. I wonder if he's ever written anything on Brazil.

Comments

[ephemeritis.livejournal.com]

I felt much the same about The Corporation, that it didn't teach me anything new but was a total scream in the face reminding me that I need to make a better effort. I used to drive Alan nuts talking about pus in milk, and I turned to him during that part of the documentary and made some smug facial expression. :P

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of your review of it when I saw it... I wonder what kind of reaction it made on people who are not very aware of this problem? I think that would be a good way of gauging how the discourse has to change, and where it needs to be more specific. Nevertheless, I think it was very good.

[canudiglett]

So *that* is where your boyfriend lives on livejournal, eh?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I swear to god I tried everything to get him into Livejournal. He said I couldn't tell anyone about his journal because he wanted to make his own friends. But he's really just not into it...

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Yaaaaaay! Kevin has an eljay now! =oD I have to make Scott get one aswell... *plots and plans* How did you manage it?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I told him he could find people with similar interests to him (comic art, music, etc.) Why doesn't Scott want to get an LJ?

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

He doesn't spend enough time on the internet, he has an email address which he checks like once a month... =o\ I really have to fix him! hehehe, he's not getting on my computer though! =oP

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

So he really doesn't like computers?

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is he is AMAZING with computers, he knows loads about them...he just doesn't have any time for them, he'd rather do something else.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Like what? Watch tv?

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Aye! And he's addicted to the PS2...He only ever comes online to do searches on random things then goes off again

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I love my Gamecube too, but I'd never give up on Livejournal.

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

Me too! I split my time between studying, PS2 and Livejournal...he's just study, PS2! =o\

How can I trick him into getting one?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Dare hiim!

[violentlyhappy.livejournal.com]

He was just walking past there and I tried to dare him and he said "what kind of dare is that? content yersel!"

He means no =o\

I can't give up though....how long did you say it took to convince Kevin again?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I just nagged him until he gave in. :)

[crushedoutgirl.livejournal.com]

the nazis loved fanta?? mannn...

about two years ago, my brother gave me a pamphlet that contained all sorts of atrocious facts about milk, which included that whole thing about pus. all i can say is that it successfully made me steer clear of milk. i never was too crazy about milk to begin with, but still. *shudder*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not that the Nazis loved Fanta. Fanta was invented by Coca-Cola because they wanted to continue making profits in Nazi Germany during the war, but they didn't want their brand to be associated with it. So they invented Fanta so people would think they were two different brands.

[doilikegirls.livejournal.com]

nick has some chomsky books...i need to read them.
isn't he a linguist?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I know little about him. Can you suggest one of his works for a total beginner?

[stupid-wanker06.livejournal.com]

i havent had milk for a long time, ever since this peta freak at our school ran around sticking 'got puss' stickers on our lockers. i have also discovered the nastiness of soy milk. oh well, osteoporosis here i come.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You could try supporting your local organic farms. Is there no alternative near you?

[stupid-wanker06.livejournal.com]

no, but there is a giant Ford plant, (i live in detroit)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Well, I'll have a look at the net for you then. I think you need some proper calcium. :)

[stupid-wanker06.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[kixie.livejournal.com]

HE TOLD ME!!

I'm so sorry I couldn't make it, I was feeling really quite crap and couldn't walk.

NEver drinking Fanta again! Yeuch!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Hehe! That's alright. Kevin also didn't want to go out because it was so cold... and it was a looooong ass documentary - my back was hurting by the end.

Hopefully, I'll see you soon.

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Come along on Sunday for Thai food!!!

*prod prod prod*

I would NEVER have made it to Leicester Square on Sat night, thanks to Muffin's huge aversion to buses. We both hobbled into the house on Friday night, me in the most pain and him just complaining about the weather.

Next time! Oh yes!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Where will Thai Food Extravaganza take place? The problem is that I'm writing a novel this month... I can't leave home for too long (as lame as that may sound.)

[kixie.livejournal.com]

It will be taking place in Leicester Square again!

Awww, two or so hours out on a Sunday afternoon will do you good! You MUST come along!!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'll think about it but I won't promise anything. :)

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Oh go on go on go on go on...

*bats eyelashes*

Please? :D

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

WEllllllll... I'll say... ok. But only because it's you! :P

[kixie.livejournal.com]

YAYYYYYYYYY!!! :D

I'll smile lots and be REALLY REALLY HAPPY now! *grin*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Awww! :)

So who else is coming?

[kixie.livejournal.com]

Um...look at the poll I did last week?

I'd find the url but I'm laaaaazy...

But it'll still be fun! Thai food kicks butt.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Ok, will do. There's this awesome Thai restaurant which is Kevin and mine's favourite... I think it's called Butai, or something like that (I can never remember the name.) Have you picked a restaurant already?

[kixie.livejournal.com]

In theory, yes - where is this Butai place??

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

There's one in Soho and there's another one by Tottenham Court Road. It's always full of people lining up (but the line moves very fast.) You get to sit around big square wooden tables, with soft lights and hot men serving you... and there's a giant Buddha with soft incense blowing from near him. The prices are quite good and the food is EXCELLENT. It's one of those places that leave stuffed. ;)

[retellit.livejournal.com]

May I say, after reading Kevin's single journal entry, that your boyfriend is hilarious?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You should tell him! He needs encouragement to write here... I would love it if you left him a comment. ;)

[meemeedarling.livejournal.com]

quiet pub off Leicester Square

I didn't know such things existed.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, it does! It's quiet and hidden behind this giant carpark-type building. Even my friend was surprised to see a pub like that existed around Leicester Square on a saturday evening.

[meemeedarling.livejournal.com]

You're a good scout.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It was luck. :)

[dawnkitten.livejournal.com]

Ahhh - they got the Fanta /Nazi connection too huh ?

Mark Thomas took over an art gallery with specially commissioned pieces of Fanta/Nazi linked art ...unfortunately I never got round to doing the piece I was going to -
And hurrah for being lactose intolerant - I knew it'd pay off some day *grins*

Wish we could have come seen it too - sounds like an interesting film- that I shall definitely catch up with at some point

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Bring a nice cushion cause it's loooong...