Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Severance is the groundbreaking Apple TV series that supposedly critiques late-stage capitalism. But does it really? Or does it call to mind something else entirely?
In this video, we dive into Severance, dystopian fiction like Brave New World and 1984, and the history of indentured servitude.
We also spoke to Roy and Laura Ann Spencer, co-founders Perma-Seal Basement Systems, for perspective on how real-world companies operate. Do they want employee-robots like "Innie" Mark and Helly from Severance? Watch to hear their answers.
And for more content like this, see our sister channel, The Invisible Lens: youtube.com/@TheInvisibleLens/videos
The Invisible Lens takes a fresh look at everything from movies to music to sports with an eye toward how political ideas, as expressed in pop culture, can be and are applied in real life.
#Severance #LumonIndustries #AppleTV #capitalism #1984 #dystopia
CHAPTERS
0:00 What is Severance REALLY about?
1:22 More about Lumon Industries
2:11 Mark and Helly Explained
4:06 Fahrenheit 451
6:45 Erasing Individuality/Brave New World
7:46 Destroying the Past/1984
10:12 The Removal of Emotion
12:01 What Real-world Companies Want
13:35 Lumon Industries and Indentured Servitude
15:51 Real-world Working Conditions
17:29 The Reality of Capitalism
LEARN LIBERTY:
Your resource for exploring the ideas of a free society. We tackle big questions about what makes a society free or prosperous and how we can improve the world we live in. Watch more at learnliberty.org/.
Severance is the groundbreaking Apple TV series that supposedly critiques late-stage capitalism. But does it really? Or does it call to mind something else entirely?
In this video, we dive into Severance, dystopian fiction like Brave New World and 1984, and the history of indentured servitude.
We also spoke to Roy and Laura Ann Spencer, co-founders Perma-Seal Basement Systems, for perspective on how real-world companies operate. Do they want employee-robots like "Innie" Mark and Helly from Severance? Watch to hear their answers.
And for more content like this, see our sister channel, The Invisible Lens: youtube.com/@TheInvisibleLens/videos
The Invisible Lens takes a fresh look at everything from movies to music to sports with an eye toward how political ideas, as expressed in pop culture, can be and are applied in real life.
#Severance #LumonIndustries #AppleTV #capitalism #1984 #dystopia
CHAPTERS
0:00 What is Severance REALLY about?
1:22 More about Lumon Industries
2:11 Mark and Helly Explained
4:06 Fahrenheit 451
6:45 Erasing Individuality/Brave New World
7:46 Destroying the Past/1984
10:12 The Removal of Emotion
12:01 What Real-world Companies Want
13:35 Lumon Industries and Indentured Servitude
15:51 Real-world Working Conditions
17:29 The Reality of Capitalism
LEARN LIBERTY:
Your resource for exploring the ideas of a free society. We tackle big questions about what makes a society free or prosperous and how we can improve the world we live in. Watch more at learnliberty.org/.
