The Human Docs’ screening of Inside Job brought an unusually large number of community members to campus Wednesday night.
Ted Parks, one of the curators of Human Docs, said he thought the number of community members at Inside Job was more than most other screenings. Parks said that is what Human Docs is designed to do—bring the community and the university into discussion about social and economic justice issues.
“Not only does it address issues of justice, it addresses structural issues of justice,” he said of the film.
Parks said that the documentary “touches on the role of individual ethics” and “the role of government in securing justice.”
The film, which explains how a long history of corruption led to the economic crisis in 2008, is nominated for an Academy Award. After the film, a Tennessee non-profit advocate and members of Lipscomb’s business faculty answered questions about greed in corporate business and government, the economic failure and the role of the individual in bringing change.
Stewart Clifton, a policy advocate and attorney for non-profits, said that the corporate bankers who caused the economic failure did things that were “grossly immoral.”
Clifton said that a renewed focus on personal integrity and industry regulation are necessary if America wants to avoid economic pitfalls in the future. Clifton agreed with Brad Reid, managing director of the Dean Institute, saying that individuals are crucial in creating a more honest system. He added that individuals working in community are what will truly advance positive action.
“Private action affects the public as a whole,” Reid said.
Reid explained that he thinks properly handling capitalism requires “careful and thoughtful” action from those in power. He closed by encouraging students to be the “moral conscience” of the organizations that they will be involved with throughout their lives.
The next Human Docs screening will be on March 30 at 8:30 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre and will feature Speaking in Tongues.