Severance was developed by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle. It is a psychological science fiction thriller. It debuted on Apple TV+ on February 18, 2022. The series examines the unsettling effects of surgically separating work memory from personal life. It received critical acclaim and 14 Emmy nominations in 2022.
Severance, set in the enigmatic and inflexible world of Lumon Industries, centers on Mark Scout (Adam Scott), a bereaved man who willingly goes through the severance process. His "innie" at work and "outie" at home don't share any memories, which causes tension to rise as long-kept secrets come to light.
One of the show's recurring visuals is a painting of Kier Eagan. He is the creator of Lumon. The artwork, which appears throughout season 1, is essential to the development of Lumon's mythology since it depicts Kier with his arms extended among obedient laborers.
Why is Lumon’s Kier Painting so sinificant in Severance
On February 18, 2022, the psychological sci-fi thriller series Severance made its debut on Apple TV+. The show depicts a dystopian future in which a few Lumon Industries employees have a surgical operation known as "severance" that causes their consciousness to be divided between their personal and professional lives.
As a result, two separate identities exist—referred to as "innies" and "outies"—who are ignorant of one another's backgrounds. Through a slow-burning mystery set in antiseptic, retro-futuristic office halls, the show examines corporate control, memory, and personal agency.
The mysterious founder of Lumon is Kier Eagan. He is crucial to the company's philosophy. Inside the severed floor, Kier is venerated with almost fanatical fervor, even though he is long dead by the start of the series. Workers study passages from his writings, take part in ceremonies honoring him, and learn business values through his "principles."
Kier is presented as a mythologized character, half godhead, half guru, rather than as a normal corporation founder. Lumon's legacy is being used as a means of ideological enforcement, with his name frequently being used to defend his actions.
The painting of Kier and his "nine core principles,” is prominently exhibited on the severed floor. It is one of the most recognizable depictions of Kier's invented mythology. Encircled by disciples some have interpreted as the first fired employees, Kier is depicted in the artwork shrouded in messianic light.
The painting serves as both psychological control and propaganda in the visual language of the presentation. The Kier artwork acts as a continual reminder of the two realities. It functions as a visual anchor of control.
Placed in a cathedral, the painting is given the status of a religious icon, thus reinforcing Lumon's artificial sense of sacred responsibility among its innies.
Cast of Severance
The Severance cast was important in transforming the show's abstract idea into a compelling story. Adam Scott plays Mark Scout, a pivotal character, beautifully portraying the emotional weight of a guy dealing with trauma and identity loss. Britt Lower's character, Helly R., who is against the severance process, is the primary source of conflict.
Harmony Cobel, played by Patricia Arquette, provides a scary complexity with her dual lives as Lumon manager and concealed neighbor. John Turturro portrays Irving Bailey, an idealistic worker dedicated to Lumon's ideals, while Zach Cherry plays Dylan George, whose disclosure of his outie life sparks a revolution within the crew.
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Christopher Walken, who plays Burt Goodman in supporting roles, exhibits a rare sensitivity in the sterile Lumon society through his friendship with Irving. Lumon's smiling but brutal enforcer, Seth Milchick, is played brilliantly by Tramell Tillman.
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