King Corn is about
two guys who move to Iowa to grow an acre of corn after finding out corn was
found in hundreds of different products, even hair. Once they grew the corn,
they decided to try and trace it to see where it went.
It scares me that scientists are able to trace corn in
people’s hair. As I saw in the movie, people consume corn that comes from
either high-fructose (form of sugar) cornstarch or corn based animal feed.
Seeing how corn was in everything reminded me that sin had contaminated
everything.
Reading an online review (http://www.gracelinks.org/133/film-review-king-corn)
opened my eyes to some of the different issues the documentary was getting at.
It was heartbreaking to know that the consumerist culture had affected even the
most rural farmlands in Iowa that old traditions have changed to fit the
lifestyle of those with money. The farms are now subsidiaries run by
“corporations” who pay the farmers enough to survive. Having grown up in the
outskirts of a small town in Uganda, I have witnessed the importance of
diversity of crops in small farmlands and seeing how all the farms were meant
for industrialized corn was eye opening.
It seems that the government has taken control of “every
square inch” of their country. It’s not about corporations meeting consumer
need anymore, it’s about consumers meeting corporation needs. Consumers are
mindlessly taking in what they are given without a moment’s hesitation. The
problem isn’t that corn is in everything, it’s that people are consuming without even knowing what is behind it all. People don’t know who
they are really supporting by buying so much, corporations.
I agree with you as well Eun Sung. Although I also did not realize that corn is everywhere, even in our hair, what is important is that people have to change and be aware of the things they are consuming. After watching my film as well, I feel that people are more and more loosing the ability to question the decisions we are making as well as the ability to make more critical decisions in the things we consume. Thanks for your thought!
ReplyDelete"It’s not about corporations meeting consumer need anymore, it’s about consumers meeting corporation needs."
ReplyDeleteWow. With this one sentence, you've just about summed up the brokenness of our current imperial context. Excellent analysis!