Robert Frost’s poignant observation about the brain ceaselessly working until one arrives at the office, sadly, rings truer than we might wish. The mind, regardless of our desire for respite, persists in its activity, often blurring the lines between professional and personal life. This constant engagement can lead to burnout and a sense of dread associated with work, sometimes pushing individuals to extremes to cope. The anecdote of a colleague resorting to opioids to endure a mandatory training course underscores the desperation some feel to disconnect, even if temporarily, from the pressures of their professional lives. The lingering dissatisfaction and feeling of humiliation even after successfully completing the course highlights the pervasive and enduring nature of work-related stress.
The success of the Apple TV+ series ”Severance” can be partly attributed to its exploration of this very dilemma. The series postulates a world where technology allows employees of Lumon Industries to surgically separate their work and personal memories. This ”severance” procedure creates two distinct personas: the work self, existing solely in the office environment with no recollection of life outside, and the private self, blissfully unaware of their work life during off-hours. This division aims to achieve the ultimate work-life balance, but the question remains: is it a utopian ideal or a dystopian reality? Perhaps it’s a utopian concept confined within the dystopian framework of compulsory labor. The series’ second season explores the burgeoning rebellion of the severed work selves, suggesting that even a seemingly perfect separation from the anxieties of work might not be sustainable.
”Severance” resonates with audiences not only for its sleek aesthetic and compelling neuro-sci-fi premise, which echoes films like ”Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and ”Dark City,” but also for its relatable portrayal of the modern workplace. The series blends thriller elements with wry humor, reminiscent of ”Black Mirror” and ”The office,” respectively. Its stark, sterile office environments, seemingly inspired by Lars Tunbjörk’s photography book ”Kontor,” evoke a sense of alienation and monotony familiar to many office workers. The series’ visual style contributes to the overall atmosphere of unease and questioning.
At its core, ”Severance” critiques the pervasiveness of work in our lives. It posits the idea that work, in its current form, is akin to slavery, something that should ideally contaminate as little of our personal lives as possible. This sentiment aligns with a growing global dissatisfaction with work, as evidenced by studies like Gallup’s ”State of the Global Workplace.” These surveys consistently reveal that a significant portion of the workforce feels disengaged or actively disengaged from their jobs, primarily motivated by financial necessity rather than genuine passion or fulfillment. The series taps into this prevalent intuition that work often consumes our lives, draining them of meaning and purpose.
The desire to escape the drudgery of work is further highlighted by the declining number of people who, when asked what they would do if they won the lottery, say they would continue working. This steady decline since the 1950s suggests that for many, work is an obligation rather than a choice. This economic compulsion reinforces the sense of being trapped in a system, further emphasizing the appeal of a world where work and personal life are completely separate. The dichotomy presented in ”Severance” reflects a reality already present in our lives, where the psychological strain of balancing work and personal identities is a normalized struggle.
The series also challenges the accepted norms of workplace behavior, questioning why certain actions, considered abusive in a personal context, are tolerated in a professional setting. The contrast between a person’s work persona and their private self often leads to jarring discrepancies, as illustrated by the anecdote of a seemingly kind relative who transforms into a tyrannical boss at work. ”Severance” prompts us to reconsider the power dynamics inherent in the modern workplace and question the extent to which we should compromise our personal freedoms for economic security. The series suggests that the current structure, where individuals essentially rent themselves out for survival, is not a historical inevitability, but rather a relatively recent development, challenging the notion that this is the only way to organize work. Despite its thought-provoking premise, ”Severance” also ironically underscores the very issue it critiques, as viewers, perhaps seeking an escape from their own work-related anxieties, immerse themselves in the dystopian world it portrays, potentially further blurring the lines between work and leisure. The show, distributed by one of the world’s largest corporations, serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and contradictions inherent in our relationship with work.
