  |
||
|
||
|
Title: Clockwork Rating: 2.3 out of 4 Reference: Director and producer, Eric Breitbart.
Reviews and Numerical Ratings 4 Totally brilliant. Narrative is clear, shows before-and-after of rational disciplining management style. Dispels the idea that factory work has always been streamlined and rational. Anyone who has worked in the service industry would identify with this. Lecture topics: labour, discipline. Andrew Paravantes 1 Effectively demonstrates the feelings of hollowness that workers experience, and how sterile & fast-paced work environments can suffocate workers’ souls and the sense of community among them. Suggests human labour has become robotic. Indicates that computerized machines are eroding the need for human labour. However, beyond the video’s theme of “machines are replacing human labour,” little further information is related. Instead, too much time is spent on irrelevant details of how machines operate, and on the idea of control. Key concepts such as capitalism, class, race, and gender (in relation to marginalized labour) are never confronted. Suitable for students at any level. Belinda Godwin 2.5 A bit boring at times, but provides an good historical
assessment of Taylorism & an interesting psychological assessment
of Taylor himself. Focusses heavily on men’s labour. Lecture topics:
Taylorism, history of work. Jamie Beaton, Kathy Bischoping & Riley
Olstead 1.5 This documentary provides a historical account
of ways in which technology and the economy have sought to increase
productivity, reduce manufacturing costs and improve control of manufacturing
processes. In particular, it highlights the contributions of Frederick
W. Taylor's clock creation and computer advancements. This video is
undermined by its refusal to consider the negative impacts of advancing
technologies. For instance, many people lose their jobs, people are
alienated from each other and the manufacturing product, and technology
perpetuates a depersonalized, bureaucratic working environment. From
an economic perspective, technological advancements contribute the earning
gap between the rich and the poor because they concentrate profit in
the hands of the few (owners and shareholders) while reducing workers’
earnings. We see that machines and computers have replaced workers,
for the most part, leading to greater productivity, and lower costs
for manufacturers. Thus, technological progress benefits the owner(s)
not the worker. Carlos Torres (undergraduate)
About the project | Book a video for class | Enter the Library Catalogue | Send us feedback | Back to main |
