The Corporation/Ethos

Please watch the film Ethos which is a view of Political/Economic/Corporate Power and its impact on democracy.   What is “Ethos” and how does it reflect the nature of politics and power in the US? What types of power do you see in the film? In what ways does it demonstrate the political power of large companies?  How do they exercise political power?  What about politicians and the public interest? Do you think the impact of leaders and other powerful interests is positive or negative? Why?  How does the film relate to political power today? Make sure cite specific examples from the film and  reading.

The Corporation/Ethos Answer

Ethos refers to the integrity of a person or the guide principle through a community is governed. In the documentary, Howard Zinn said that “our ethos is all that we currently hold to be true. It is what we act upon. It governs our manners, our business, and our politics.” This means that ethos is all-encompassing. However, the documentary also shows that ethos can also mean “manufactured consent” because powerful entities can filter the information made accessible to the public to guide their decisions