In this documentary-style final project from fall 2012, Stoni Tomson and Sharina Gordon tell the story of how Walmart, a company considered by many in the mainstream media to be the exemplar of the American entrepreneurial spirit, in fact relies upon exploiting labor at home and abroad for its success. Walmart not only takes advantage of unequal global relationships established early in the United States’ imperial history, but it also manipulates the latest technology to draw the most profits from consumers at the lowest cost of labor and transportation. The innovative (read: exploitative) Walmart business model may get cheap goods to consumers quickly, but at the price of the dignity and safety–sometimes even the lives–of the people who keep the company afloat, from the cashiers checking out t-shirts at the Providence Walmart to seamstresses  in Dhaka sewing Faded Glory tags into the backs of garments.

Though the story could end there, the documentary leaves us on a positive note with interviews with workers about why they are standing up against Walmart. The last words of the documentary? An inspiring a play on Walmart’s slogan: “Stand up, live better.”