Power play essay

Powerplay leads to absolute corruption. Discuss

this statement with at least two texts in mind.

Powerplay can be defined as an action, or manoeuvre

as in politics or business, by which power is
concentrated or manipulated in order to subdue a rival
or gain control of a situation. Simply Powerplay results
when 2 or more entities try to gain control over the
situation by manipulating their power to be superior
over the other. This results in complex interplay of
power. As John Dalberg had said power corrupts and
absolute power corrupts absolutely, Power
bringscorruption at an individual or group level due to
the power that somebody have and it intensifies this
corruption when the entity is trying to seize more
power. The movie the insider directed by Michael
Mann and the allegorical novel Animal Farm written by
George Orwell displays powerplay in series of events
and how it effects the entities within it. It also shows
how corruption is brought in different entities due to
the power they have. The Powerplay is displayed using
many language devices along with visual devices in
these text. This essay will reflect to the how and where

powerplay is portrayed in these texts and how it is

portrayed.
The insider directed by Michael Mann is a moviebased
on how power is manipulated by different entities and
the interplay that results and ultimate repercussions of
their actions. Powerplay is happening among number of
entities in the movie all intended to either allow or
prevent Wigand to give interview. In the first half of the
movie powerplay is happening between Jeffery Wigand
and Brown & Williamson. Jeffery Wigand has power of
information and B&W has legislative, financial, social
and political power. Both of the entities are trying to
gain control over the situation with the aid of their
power. The result is powerplay.One scene where
powerplay is evident is whereThomas Sandefur
threatens Wigand of potential loss of his severance pay
and medical coverage if he decides to violate his
confidentiality agreement. This scene also shows the
corruption happeningwithin B&W.In the second half of
the movie powerplay is evident between B&W and CBS
Corporation and Lowell Bergman. B&W uses their
legislative power to threaten CBS of multibillion dollar
lawsuit to gain control over CBS forcing them to not air
the interview. Powerplay is also seen between CBS and

Lowell Bergmann where CBS decides not to air

interview because it will jeopardise their sell to
Westinghouse which will make certain executive rich.
When Bergman goes against CBS, CBS uses their
legislative power to suspend Bergmann and eventually
Bergman uses his media power to get the interview to
the public.
Confidentiality agreement is a major symbol conveying
ideas of powerplay, Confidentiallity agreement is B&W
major power to hinder Wigand from going to public. All
these powerplay brings unwanted repercussions as
Bergman says what got broken here doesnt go back
together, a short list includes Wigand loses his family,
Bergmann quits CBS and B&W faces penalties. There
are certain techniques which makes a movie very
meaning and attentive to audience. To intensify
suspense and capture audiences attention Camera
techniques such as handheld shots and over the
shoulder shots are used. In one scene camera is slowly
zooming to Wigands face which implies that something
bad is approaching him.Use of music also creates the
environment of terror and tension. It can be seen that
every event without dialogues are accomplished by
music which involves the audience within movie and

also displays meaning more affectively. Facial

expression is another major techniques evident in The
Insider. Sometimes facial expressions convey tone
without the need of dialogue. There when mixed
together makes insider more meaningful and affective
to the audience.

Animal farm is an allegorical novel written by George

Orwell based on the ideas of communism. As in the
insider Animal farm comprises powerplay among
number of entities. In the first half powerplay is
happening between Animals and Mr Jones. Jones is
using his physical power to seize the control over the
animals and animals want to rebel and gain absolute
power over themselves. Animal are trying to unify and
use their power as a whole to rebel and drive John
away. In the second half powerplay is happening among
the animals where Napolean wants control over the
animals and Snowball wants to maintain his control.
There are number of symbols which display powerplay.
One major one is windmill. Windmill symbolises
Animals power as being superior than the humans and
their ability. Well moulded language by Squealer
symbolises how power of speech can be effective.

Seven commandments symbolises animals unity and

ideas, but it later becomes symbol for corruption where
Napolean deliberately changes them justify his evil
actions. There is corruption happening at individual and
group level in animal farm, where John uses his physical
power to dominate animals and Napoleon uses his
physical and persuasive power to become superior than
the others. Corruption in Napolean wasnt present
before but once he got power he started to corrupt.
This shows parallelism with John Dalbergs quote
power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts
absolutely. Animal farm is allegory based in historical
event Russian Revolution. So it is not only the story
trying to entertain the audience but it is also criticising
political systems.
The insider and animal farm shows how power is sought
and maintained which is simply Powerplay. Some
events also justifies John Dalbergs quote Power
corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.