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"Office Space" prompts a critical examination of corporate life and the struggle for individual freedom. The film portrays the oppressive nature of callous corporate capitalism, as exemplified by the smarmy management and the sterile environment likened to "veal-fattening pens." Workers like Peter navigate dead-end jobs while battling the artificiality of enforced corporate culture. Themes of materialism, power dynamics, and rebellion manifest through humor and satire. The significance of these dynamics raises questions about the possibility of empowerment and change in an oppressive system.
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Office Space Politics in Film Braunwarth
The Message? • What is the Central Message/Theme of this Film? • What happened to Synkowski? • Callous corporate capitalism and artificiality literally kill people • In what ways does management impose its power on the workers?
Overview • What’s the significance of the traffic at the beginning of the film? • Peter’s stuck in a similar dead-end job, not going anywhere • What’s his work environment like? • Work in artificial environment of “Veal-Fattening Pens” • Smarmy and condescending manager Lumbergh • Memo cover pages • Why the receptionist repeating the same message?
Overview • What’s his home life like? • Sterile apartment with paper-thin walls and IKEA furniture • Girlfriend who is most concerned about his job • What’s his social space like? • Humorlessly enforced “fun” atmosphere at Chotchke’s
Freedom • How do the workers fight back and carve out their own areas of freedom? • Why do they smash the machine? • Why the sexual references? • Why Michael Bolton v. Gangsta Rap? • What would Lawrence do with $1m? • What’s the point of the fishing? • Dismantling the “Cube Farm”?
Materialism • How is society’s emphasis on materialism demonstrated in this film? • Why “Chatchke’s”? • Why the is the Pet Rock a great idea? • Is it at all relevant that this film was released in 1999 as the dot.com bubble was about to burst? • Why is Synkowski so happy about his accident?
Power v. Freedom • How do you feel about the ending? • Does burning down the building solve anything? • Why don’t the embezzlers or arsonists get caught? • Does Office Space offer a realistic conclusion? • Can people fight the power? • What other options do people have? • How is this similar or different from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?