October 7 The Insider

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October 7 -- The Insider

• 1. Lowell Bergman and Jeffrey Wigand can both be
  regarded as middle managers. Each brings to his
  position professional ethics and personal
  ambitions. What organizational pressures affect
  their ability to follow their ethics or realize
  their ambitions? How does each resolve this
  conflict? Interpret their actions in terms of
  Eriksons life-cycle model.

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The Insider

• 2. Mike Wallace, host of 60 Minutes, says that he
  is approaching the end of his career, and is
  concerned about his legacy. Considering the way
  he was depicted in The Insider as part of his
  legacy, evaluate his legacy as a professional
  journalist. Eriksons life cycle model should be
  relevant. What does the movie suggest happens to
  people who become rich, powerful, and famous?

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The Insider

• 3.The concluding scene tells us that, while based
  on a true story, events in The Insider were
  fictionalized for dramatic effect. Which events
  do you think were fictionalized? What cinematic
  techniques facilitate fictionalization? What are
  the pros and cons of fictionalization?

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The Insider

• 4. The Insider focuses on two industries, big
  tobacco and infotainment. Discuss each in terms
  of corporate strategy to maximize the value of
  shareholder equity, competitive threats, how
  ambitious employees succeed, and the regulatory
  environment. Do you think Bergmans comment the
  press is free to anyone who owns one is as true
  now as it was in 1999?

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The Insider

• 5. Many contemporary movies (e.g. The Insider,
  Enron, Erin Brokovich, Wall Street, The
  Corporation) portray capitalism in a critical
  light. What aspects of capitalism do they
  criticize? What narrative techniques are used?
  Can you think of any movies that treat capitalism
  in a more positive manner? If you were to make
  such a movie, how would you do it?

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Narrative Complexity

• Two narratives of heroic individuals versus
  repressive corporations
• Conflict among three individual narratives
  (Wigand, Bergman, Wallace) though all on the
  same side for point-of-view
• All three men with spikes in real life
• All portrayed by major actors (Crowe, Pacino,
  Plummer)

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Dominant Fable

• Critique of capitalism
• Harmful effect of product (Insider), production
  process (Erin Brokovich), corporate culture
  (North Country)
• Conflict over ownership of intellectual capital
  (Flash of Genius)
• Special problems of financial function or sector
  (Enron, Wall Street)

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Counter-fable

• Corporations that ultimately do the right
  thing Johnson and Johnson re. Tylenol
• Successful entrepreneurs