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企業活動と現代美術と災害事例:現代社会における倫理的課題」の英語長文問題

以下の英文を読み、設問に答えなさい。

The interplay between corporate activities, contemporary art, and disaster relief is a complex and often fraught area, demanding ethical consideration. Corporations, driven by profit motives, sometimes engage in activities that inadvertently or intentionally contribute to environmental disasters. These disasters, in turn, can become unexpected sources of inspiration and material for contemporary artists, raising questions about the relationship between art, commerce, and social responsibility. Consider, for example, the case of a fictional oil company, PetroCorp. PetroCorp's drilling operations in a remote region led to an oil spill of devastating proportions, causing significant environmental damage and displacing local communities. While PetroCorp offered financial compensation, many argue that the funds were inadequate to address the long-term ecological and social consequences. A renowned artist, inspired by the tragedy, created a series of sculptures using salvaged oil barrels and polluted soil, representing the lasting scars of the disaster. This artwork, exhibited internationally, generated considerable debate. Some praised the artist's powerful expression of environmental destruction and the suffering of affected communities. They saw the work as a crucial intervention that brought attention to the long-term effects of corporate irresponsibility. Others, however, criticized the artist for profiting from the disaster, arguing that the work's aesthetic value was overshadowed by the ethical implications of benefiting financially from a tragedy. The controversy raised questions about the role of art in advocating for social justice, especially in contexts involving corporate negligence. Another layer of complexity emerges when we consider the relationship between disaster relief and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Many large corporations donate to disaster relief efforts, often framing such contributions as acts of philanthropy and corporate citizenship. However, critics point out that these donations can serve as a form of ‘disaster capitalism’, allowing corporations to bolster their public image while deflecting attention from their role in creating or exacerbating the very problems they claim to be addressing. The motivations behind such donations therefore remain open to scrutiny. The examples above illustrate the multifaceted nature of the relationship between these three elements. While art can serve as a powerful tool for raising awareness and stimulating critical dialogue around corporate malfeasance and its devastating consequences, it also raises difficult ethical questions regarding the artist's role, the monetization of suffering, and the limits of corporate social responsibility as a tool for genuine societal improvement. The true measure of ethical engagement in this complex interplay remains a subject of ongoing debate.

1. According to the passage, what is a major ethical concern regarding the artist's work inspired by the PetroCorp oil spill?

2. What is the author's view on corporate donations to disaster relief efforts?

3. The passage uses the fictional example of PetroCorp primarily to:

4. Which of the following best summarizes the main argument of the passage?