#9

Dear Kalle Lasn,
My name is Morgan Russell; I am a junior at the University of Vermont. I have recently finished reading your book Culture Jam for a class titled Media Literacy and the Environment. I am writing to thank you for the invaluable information you have provided me with.
In your book you spoke of the American dream, a dream filled with money, excitement, power, sex and fame. This dream has been fed to us by these large powerful corporations and while it is clear a large percentage of us will never achieve this dream it “is so seductive that many of us willingly keep on dreaming.”
What shocked me the most is that it is our own inability to let go of this dream that has made us turn over all control and power to the corporations. “We, the people, have lost control. Corporations, these legal fictions that we ourselves created two centuries ago, now have more rights, freedoms, and powers than we do.” It is both sad and frightening to realize that we created something that is now polluting our bodies, minds and planet.
I find our nation wide media obsession sickening in every way. You wrote, “It’s time to admit that chronic TV watching is North America’s number one mental health problem.” For a large portion of Americans life is ruled by what is on TV. It is sad that so many people with huge amounts of potential waste a large part of their life living through a box in their living room. “Real living had been replaces by prepackaged experiences and media-created events.”
Finally I would like to talk about the chapter titled Rage. I am angry about what is happening to my country, and especially since it is primarily happening to my peers. You wrote that “when is springs from a sense of moral affront, it brings profound change…rage drives revolutions.” Revolution is clearly needed and yes individuals can help but I think that for large scale change there needs to be large scale anger about the current state. Your book infuriated me in the best possible way, it taught me a huge amount and I believe that anyone who has the chance to read it would feel the same way.
Best Regards,
Morgan Russell

The Corporation:
Surprise: I was absolutely shocked to learn about water being privatized in Bolivia. I cannot even comprehend how a country or corporation could justify the privatization of the most basic human right/need. Not only did they privatize specific supplies of water but also rainwater! I was also surprised that police would even consider defending their countries decision to privatize water.
Agitation: Falsifying news is not actually against the law!!!
New Info: I was shocked again when I learned of the corporations who continue to do business with countries that are considered enemies and even with terrorists. It is especially shocking that these corporations are ones we see and deal with on a regular basis. The information about IBM, and coca cola/fanta in Nazi Germany is especially disturbing.
Question: Because most large corporations are global how can anyone enforce rule/regulations? Is it completely up to the consumers? How do we change consumption habits?