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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.
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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?