The Apple TV+ show “Severance” has a striking visual style, sharp script and mind-bending twists, so it’s no wonder the series has widespread attention. How can something so serious be made by one of America’s top comedy actors, Ben Stiller? Joke’s on us.
While heading to Kendall Square, I found myself reflecting on a recent episode – maybe a little too much – and started noticing company ID badges clipped to backpacks, tucked into pockets, or hanging around necks more than usual. Coincidence? Maybe. In “Severance,” employees wear their badges at all times. The keycard gives characters access to their workspace, whereupon entering, they lose all memory of who they are outside of work, and vice versa once they head home at the end of the day.
In a time of job uncertainty, displaying a corporate badge feels like a statement of pride. I occasionally leave my lanyard visible – partly because wearing a keycard carries a certain professional appeal.
Could the show be shaping workplace fashion subtly? Have our streets adopted a “Severance”-inspired look? It could be just a trend. Potentially, as we see daily news of a government-conducted series of mass layoffs from what had been the most reliable jobs in the country, a shakier economy with growing unemployment and resulting belt-tightening, it’s something deeper.
A stronger
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