Power Struggles

               In class, we talked about different types of power. We talked about if there should be or if there is a separation between monetary power and intellectual power. I think that most people would say that there should be a separation of the two otherwise someone with money would always control everything.  But, could there ever be a separation? I really do no think it could. In today's world, we tend to value money or intelligence. I bet if most of the people in the world were surveyed, they would say they would rather have a a great amount of money rather than a great amount of intelligence. With money, things, like new inventions or new music, can be pushed into the world very fast. If someone has intellectual power, they can try to get their ideas out there, but it could take a very VERY long time for this idea to become popular in the world.

                One example I can think of where there is disparity between intellectual power and monetary power is the music of 50 Cent. Ever since he last released an album in 2009, he has been attempting to release another, but cannot because of his label. It seems as though that his label continues to not like what he comes up with to the sell to the public. Maybe, his new songs are not catchy enough? Labels support artists only if they believe in the product and right now they must not believe he can sell. The funny thing is that 50 Cent probably does have the resources and money to sell the album on his own. Maybe he does not believe in it himself? or Maybe he is in some sort of contract where he cannot release independently? All of this comes back to who has the monetary power and unfortunately for 50 Cent, the label does.

Jeffrey K