Edmodo

Edmodo is a social networking site specific for schools. It has student and teacher profile settings.

I've created a group for our class and if you want to join Edmodo you need this code.

9xs8tg

Maybe this site will get more uptake, as it looks like a very familiar social networking site.

From what we saw Friday

The section about marketing was interesting. So I thought I'd give you a task:

Look around Gore for some examples of marketing to children. Can you identify some ways that products try to tap into the "nag factor" that was described in the movie?

Also, how about that section describing "created wants"

Can you think of any product or service that you want right now, which you may not have wanted last week/month/year?

Word List

Have a go at defining these words. Use a dictionary. Add a comment to this post with the definition to a word. Maybe even try using that word in a sentence to show what it means.

clandestine
callous
incapacity
enduring
disregard
deceit
conform
epiphany
paradigm
plunder

A good habit to get into

Sometimes when we read things, there are new or confusing words in the text. I've developed a good habit that I think you would benefit from.

Whenever I come across a word that I don't understand, I look it up! On the blog here, I have added a section called "Useful Links." The first link is for a dictionary. I'd like you to read the text below and use the online dictionary to look up any words you are unfamiliar with. Post the word and it's definition as a comment to this post.

Again this excerpt comes from the Corporation Study Guide by ATOM.

Case Histories—the Pathology of Commerce

In this key section The Corporation addresses its major argument and associates the corporation with an anti-social personality. If the corporation can be viewed legally as ‘a person’ then, why not socially? Actual internationally recognized diagnostic criteria are used to judge the behaviour of corporations and the picture that emerges is one of the corporation as self-interested, inherently amoral, callous and deceitful; it breaches social and legal standards to get its way; it does not suffer from guilt, yet it can mimic the human qualities of empathy, caring and altruism. Four case studies, drawn from a universe of corporate activity, are used to demonstrate harm to workers, human health, animals and the biosphere.

Beyond the Classroom

These questions will be posed in class today, September 23rd. We will have some discussion in class, but I would like that to continue on the blog as well.

The following is taken from the Corporation Study Guide, produced by ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media)

The Corporation locates the beginning of the industrial age as the origin of the modern corporation. Originally a corporation existed as an association of people to carry out a specific function as defined by the state that provided the charter, or authorization and set of limits, on that corporation. A key change was the decision in the United States in 1886 that a corporation could be considered, in a legal sense, as a person.

1. Why was this so significant?

2. The film argues that the corporation has one overriding obligation [something it must aim to do], what is it?

Online Discussion - Viewing Day #1

So today we started watching the documentary.
Check out the website for the film by clicking this link:

http://www.thecorporation.com/index.cfm

I'd like to try and use this blog to encourage online discussion. I'll start you off with a question.

The first few minutes of the film focuses on describing a corporation using the metaphor of a "Bad Apple."

1. What is the metaphor of a bad apple all about?
2. Can you remember any other metaphors from the first section used to describe corporations?

2011 10E Social Studies

This will be the discussion thread for 10 Social Studies for this year, 2011.
I am starting this to go along with the viewing of the documentary, The Corporation.