Analysis of the documentary Harlan County, USA Essay

I. SUMMARY OF FACTSThe leases central focus is the real- sustenance rollation of a wear stages by miners in the Brookside Mine against Duke Power Comp each, a giant energy confederacy in the get together States, for its alleged unfair labor practices, life-threatening working(a) conditions, and low wages. It excessively highlights the miss of response of the United Mine Workers of the States (UWMA) towards the plight of the workers.Basically, deal director and manufacturing business Barbara Kopple, together with her crew, spent years with the miners and their families depicted and record their paltry working and alimentation conditions. She followed them as they rallied in front of the modern York stock exchange and similarly interviewed miners stirred by bootleg lung disease or emberminers pneumoconiosis. The film in addition documented that main source of discord amongst the come with and the miners was the no-strike article in the contract, which was in c onclusion removed.Moreover, the film also showed how the companion increase its profits by more(prenominal) than degree Celsius per cent while the miners only standard a 4 per cent devote increase despite the 7 per cent increaese in the cost of living in the same year. Major elements also shown in the documentary include the prevalence of sphere music, which has more or less been integrity of the themes of the entire strike. However, the around significant steadyts shown in the documentary argon the murders of two miners, Joseph Yablonski and his family, and Lawrence Jones. Their deaths at long last changed the tide for the miners as the management in the long run a agreed to arrange a bagain with them, ending the strike.II. ISSUES1.What factor outs could have caused the company to mould the miners the way they did?2.What were the possible social and economic factors that compelled the miners to continue working for the company sooner finally staging a strike?3.In wha t ways is the film an important ethnical master component part and an eye-opener to society?III. DISCUSSION1. In general, on that point atomic number 18 a hail of factors that come into play with regard to the using of miners in the film. First is the military man factor since Duke Power Company is run by humans. Therefore, they are prone to temptations, sin, and emotions, among many others. In addition, the socio-economic status of the miners played an important exercise in pushing their employers to exploit them. For example, as shown in the documentary, the al or so of all of the miners are impoverished.So when they were able to find oeuvre as coalminers, they possibly saw it as a golden opportunity for them to secure a living and meliorate their conditions which is wherefore they agreed to work for the company without considering the unfair labor practices at the time. Seeing that the miners are seemingly eager to find work, the company willingly exploit them by prov iding them with suicidal working conditions and low wages. In a way, it would even appear that the miners were indebted to the company for providing them with jobs.2. Poverty is clearly one of the most significant economic factors that compelled the miners to work for the the company. As shown in the film, the miners experienced some of the strike living conditions. Almost of all do not have sufficient urine and food, among other basic necessities. Seeing that they were in dire need of means to improve their lives, they willingly allowed themselves to be exploited so long as they are able to make a living (Biskind n.p.).However, as depicted in the documentary, the miners were unaware of the poor working conditions that awaited them, which included the no strike clause in their contracts, which was ultimately removed. However, in a way, the miners felt that the clause in the contract initially meant that their do in the company is secure and there will never be any need for them to stage a strike. except eventually, they realized that the strike prevented them from influencing the labor practices of the company and this is why they pushed for its removal.3. The documentary as a whole serves as an important heathenish piece and an eye-opener mainly because of the painful humans that it depicted. Aside from the impoverished miners, the documentary also captured on film true to life events such as imprisoned strikers, rioters, violence, courtrooms, and even murder. It can also be tell that the documentary had a more human side to it, as director Kopple took discordant attempts by attending the actual strikes and pickets and also interviewing the members of the miners and their families.Aside from showing the plight of the miners, it also depicted how people with little to no education are abused and exploited by those who rank higher in society. Most of all, the strength of the film lies intemperately on its moral authority (Biskind n.p.) as it does no t simply portray heroes and villains, but simply the truth and the lessons to be versed from it.IV. OPINIONOver-all, I believe that the document is a highly essential piece that depicts the realities of one of the poorest working classes in the country- the coal miners. I am sure that most people, myself included, are not aware of the dangers that chase the job such as black lung disease, which is fatal. In general, I believe that the the film was successful in depicting how these coalminers risk their lives to ensure that the homes and businesses of thousands of Americans are supplied with electicity and power and therefore, they more than deserve, at the very least, safe working conditions, fair labor practices, and higher wages.