Severance: Ben Stiller Compares Lumon Industries To Apple

Mei Lin

6 min read

Post on May 17, 2025

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The Cult of Company Culture: Lumon and Apple's Shared Aesthetic

Both Lumon Industries and Apple cultivate strong brand identities, reflected in their employees' appearance and behavior. This meticulously crafted image extends beyond mere branding; it's a carefully constructed aesthetic that speaks volumes about the companies' values and expectations.

Uniformity and Branding

• Lumon's strict dress code mirrors Apple's focus on a unified and professional image. The pristine, almost sterile uniforms of Lumon employees immediately establish a sense of uniformity and control, echoing Apple's own emphasis on a polished, professional appearance for its workforce.
• The color palettes and architectural similarities in both settings are striking. The muted tones and minimalist design of Lumon's offices are reminiscent of Apple's signature aesthetic. Both prioritize clean lines and a sense of order, creating environments that are both aesthetically pleasing and subtly controlling.
• This enforced uniformity has significant implications for individual expression and autonomy. The lack of personal flair in Lumon's dress code directly impacts the employees' sense of self, highlighting the suppression of individuality under the guise of corporate branding. This raises questions about the balance between professional image and personal freedom within a corporate environment. The same can be questioned about Apple's own culture.

Technological Integration and Surveillance

Technology plays a crucial role in both Lumon Industries and Apple, but with vastly different implications. While Apple uses technology to enhance productivity and connect users, Lumon employs it as a tool for surveillance and control.

• The invasive technology in Severance, such as the severance procedure itself, highlights real-world concerns about data privacy and employee monitoring. The show forces us to confront the ethical dilemmas surrounding advancements in neurotechnology and the potential for employers to exert unprecedented levels of control over their employees' minds and bodies.
• Apple's data collection practices, while not as extreme as Lumon's, can be viewed through the lens of Lumon's oppressive systems. The vast amount of data Apple collects on its users raises questions about the extent to which technology can be used to monitor and influence behavior.
• Technology's role in maintaining control and minimizing dissent is a central theme in Severance. Both Lumon and (to a lesser extent) Apple utilize technology to streamline operations and enforce compliance, blurring the lines between efficiency and oppression.

The All-Encompassing Nature of Work: Blurring the Lines Between Professional and Personal Life

Both Lumon Industries and Apple demand intense dedication from their employees, often blurring the lines between professional and personal life. This "always-on" culture, while perhaps not as extreme in Apple as depicted in Severance, still raises valid concerns about work-life balance and employee well-being.

Dedication and Loyalty

• The long hours and demanding work environment portrayed in Severance reflect realities in the tech industry. The show's depiction of burnout and the psychological toll of relentless work pressures resonates with many who have experienced similar pressures in demanding corporate settings.
• The concept of "company loyalty" is explored in Severance and often feels like an unhealthy obsession. The show questions whether unwavering dedication to a company justifies sacrificing personal well-being and mental health.
• The potential for burnout and the psychological impact of such environments are central to Severance's narrative. The show powerfully illustrates the consequences of prioritizing corporate demands over employee mental health.

The Erosion of Boundaries

• "Wellness" initiatives, often found in large tech companies, can be seen as a form of control. While ostensibly designed to improve employee well-being, these programs can subtly reinforce the company's influence over employees' lives, mirroring the manipulative practices of Lumon Industries.
• The blurring of work and leisure time, facilitated by technology and the always-on culture, is a key theme. The constant connectivity fostered by smartphones and other devices makes it difficult for employees to disconnect from work, even outside of working hours.
• The ethical implications of companies seeking to exert influence beyond working hours are significant. The show prompts a crucial discussion on the boundaries between professional and personal life and the responsibility of corporations to respect their employees' time and mental well-being.

Ben Stiller's Intentional Comparison: A Commentary on Modern Corporate Culture

Ben Stiller's involvement in Severance and his understanding of the parallels between Lumon and certain aspects of real-world corporate structures is significant. The show isn't just a fictional story; it's a pointed commentary.

The Director's Vision

• Stiller's comments and interviews reveal his intention to explore the anxieties surrounding corporate power. His statements about the show's inspiration and its message provide valuable context for understanding the show's critical lens.
• The Apple comparison heightens the unsettling nature of Lumon's practices. By drawing a parallel to a beloved and globally recognized brand, the show creates a sense of unease and encourages viewers to question the systems they may take for granted.
• The impact of this comparison is to amplify the show's overall message about corporate responsibility. The comparison acts as a powerful tool, bringing the concerns raised by the show into the realm of everyday experience for many viewers.

A Cautionary Tale

• Severance uses the Apple comparison as a warning against unchecked corporate power. The show serves as a cautionary tale about prioritizing profit over employee well-being and the potential consequences of blind faith in corporate structures.
• The show's themes are directly connected to real-world examples of unethical corporate behavior. The parallels drawn between fiction and reality emphasize the timeliness and relevance of Severance's message.
• The social and political implications of the show's message are far-reaching. The show encourages viewers to engage in critical dialogue about corporate responsibility, workplace ethics, and the power dynamics within contemporary organizations. Severance's lasting impact on the conversation around corporate accountability is undeniable.

Conclusion

Severance’s unsettling portrayal of Lumon Industries, with its striking similarities to Apple, serves as a powerful commentary on modern corporate culture and the potential for unchecked power. By exploring the themes of corporate control, the blurring of work-life boundaries, and the insidious nature of technological surveillance, the show prompts critical reflection on our own relationships with our employers. The parallels drawn between Lumon and Apple are not accidental; they are a stark warning. Understanding the unsettling aspects of Severance and its reflection of potential realities encourages viewers to question the nature of their own workplaces and to demand greater ethical standards from the companies they work for. Don't miss out on this chilling exploration of Severance Lumon Industries – watch it now and decide for yourself how realistic the parallels are!