COM 267 - NYH

[mediamadness267]

Thanks so much!

I had a fantastic time putting together this blog; thank you for the opportunity to complete such an awesome assignment. Hope you enjoy it!!

[allthemidnightmemories]

the essays i could write about mark and the repression of his grief and the way this episode feels like a thesis of that because of his reaction at the irv memorial and you could argue that denial is a core part of mark no matter how much of his memories you rip out and how he will never be whole unless he comes to terms with what’s happened to him

[mediamadness267]

Super deep...interesting idea, that there are core parts of us that would remain the same, even if you separated our consciousnesses, like in the severed procedure.

[strawberry-macchiato]

Orpheus and Eurydice

6/100 // print

[mediamadness267]

I've seen this kind of post a couple times now, where people comment that Severance is a remake on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Truthfully, I can't say how accurate that is, but I do love the idea of a remade story from a couple thousand years ago, in ways we can better visualize now...different medium, but ultimately the same message.

[kestrel-of-herran]

it's so sad that the innies think the outies have all this life and freedom that has been denied to them and meanwhile mark is a depressed alcoholic who lives only in dim lighting, helena cuts eggs in pieces so small the fork shouldn't be able to lift them to her mouth, dylan and gretchen's marriage is desintegrating, all irving has is black coffee and black paint and the black hole of vengeance that wants to swallow him whole... it's just so fucking sad they have the physical means to reach for and grasp all the happiness denied to the innies and they still can't. they're too damaged to. they've drawn a chalk circle of hell around themselves and they never step out of it. the innies' lust for life is the only thing that will help them break the cycle. we can't, we can't, i'm ready, we can't, i'm ready, i'm ready, i'm ready.

[mediamadness267]

While kind of dark, I love how this post analyzes the themes of escape that all the severed Lumon employees are seeking...and eventually how it causes them even more problems.

[maddyb33edits]

Ori will of the wisps -fan edit- -song-Carol of the old ones

[mediamadness267]

Great example of interactive narrative media!!

[mediamadness267]

Severance Companion Piece

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Severance Floor Report (November 14th)

Management,

Very little to note today.  Promoted Mark S. as requested.  Oversaw orientation of Helly R. in new position at Macro Data Refinement.  Milcheck C. performed adequately when Mark S. failed to carry out the orientation per Lumon regulation.  I would like to again restate my hesitation with promoting Mark S. as the chief of the unit; his incompetency continues to cause frustration.  

No new information detailing the whereabouts of Petey M.  Awaiting further instructions.

Sincerely,

Cobel S.

P.S: The new office is hideous.  I would like to request a transfer.

[starbell0]

oh my god I just had to bring it up

Severance NAILS Ricken's book "The You that You Are" to a T

Cause obviously it is a horribly corny book, but it also resonates so deeply with innie Mark and Dylan - specifically Mark because we see him change and really start to question Lumen because of this book.

So its this blend that is sort of "my god THATS the book that helped them" and also "of course that was the book that helped them."

And we know that Ricken knows it's bad. And outie Mark thinks it's bad. So does Devon. But guys. ITS ACTUALLY BAD. It blends cheesy with actual life lessons SO WELL and its absolutely something Ricken would write and I've never seen a horrible book done so well before and ohmygod

is absolutely something that would get published in our modern world btw.

it would be one of those books that a top celebrity swears by and then a bunch of people buy it and only 3 people actually defend it

[mediamadness267]

I wonder if posts like this are what makes people write new transmedia pieces...clearly at least some people thought "the you you are" was worth putting into actual writing.

Kind of cool to think the creators of severance wrote it as a courtesy to the fan base.

[hackfixation]

rewatching episode 1

1) something about the detail of Mark swapping out his watches drives me mad. They're not even allowed a single *hint* of their external personalities. It's just a decal watch, but thats enough for it to be contraband

2) "You look hungover" Mark S. knows nothing about his outie, so this comment from Ms. Cobal is definitely a form of emotional manipulation.

3) This show really hits right in the feels of being an office employee

4) So much blue in this series. Blue is associated with calm & tranquility, a type of peace. On the other hand blue can also be associated with order, superstition and depression. Also associated with Medicine & Tech

5) "I've wanted to pummel mark myself bit I'm his employer" "one part of your orientation that mark can't possibly derail" Manipulative af. Scapegoating & Underminding Mark.

6) "Every time you find yourself here it's because you chose to come back" Mark S. sounds so dissociated while saying that line. As if he's tried to convince himself of it.

7) Imagine if he had hit Helena, the fucking shit show of a news circus. "Maybe his innie influenced him subconsciously?!"

8) Devon and Mark have such a great sibling dynamic, I love it

9) The Severance "Dinner" Talk is such an awkward and succinct display of College Educated Liberal-Progressive political conversations. They can easily discuss a topic in vague terms "Life & Food" but the minute you confront them with actual corrections "No one would've called it ww1 as ww2 hadn't happened yet", Mark wasn't questioning his intelligence but the look the man gave suggested that he took it that way. Plus the minute it's revealed he's severed through someone "outting" him, everyone stares at him as if he's something fascinating or horrifying. They care about the optics, ethics and politics of his lived experience than about him. "I stand by you with no reservation" yet lists all the reasons why its controversial? "So well said" "I definitely stand by mark" meaningless commentary, nobody there actually *cares* about Mark ( besides Devon ) because they're all just performing compassion

10) THEIR SIBLING DYNAMIC IS SO AMAZING

11) Ricken is so hard to describe. The actor captures that balance between well-meaning & self-aggrandozing liberal so well? Hes caring & compassionate but completely not reading social cues.

12) Racecar means something but couldn't tell ya

13) PETEY!

14) "Sorry, I had to drown out the memory of mom & dad switching out our beds when we were kids" I love these two so much

15) "Hi, Kids Whats for Dinner" Good try at the sleeper agent bit, Petey

16) "I'm your best friend, you're my very good friend" Love this line because if a stranger told me that, I would be mildly offended lowkey.

17 ) The Ms. Selvig reveal. Even if shes not severed, still a commentary about who we are in our personal lives vs our work lives.

[mediamadness267]

Another great analysis, specifically of episode 1 from season 1; I love how deeply the fans have dived into this piece of media!

[starbell0]

Severance S1 Spoilers!!

I want to talk about THIS MOMENT IN SEVERANCE.

I actually had to pause the show when I saw this because this is it. This is the moment they unite. Even though they still don't have a common goal or actually know what they are doing, it's the first time they stand AND feel united.

And its because Dylan fights and bites (rhyme!) Mr. Milchick and they end up having to all pull Dylan off of him. But look at them. They stay this way for a very very long time. When Mr. Milchick is recovering, when he is speaking to them, when he walks away.

Look at their eyes. They don't know whats going on, they are afraid, but they are standing with Dylan. They don't know why he bit Mr. Milchick but they are confident in standing with him and taking his side. I mean, it is the literal form of taking his side.

I also want to point out their hands. All three of them have both of their hands on Dylan. They are fully there and fully with him. And they stay like that.

And like it or not, they are family to the bone. Because look at that. And tell me they aren't

[mediamadness267]

Great analysis on this scene of the show!

[scoobydoo-ghoulschool]

God the season 1 Severance rewatch is doing something to me.

It really all is about the parent child relationship isn't it? Not just the the whole thing the Macro-Data-Refining department has with Ms. Cobel and Mr. Milchick, but the very idea that it is the Outie that brings the Innie into the world without permission, and thinks somehow that they are owed for that "gift".

What is the Helena Eagan and Helly R. relationship if not that of an antagonistic mother and daughter? I am a person, you are not. I am an adult, you are not.

[mediamadness267]

Interesting perspective of the innie / outie relationship.

[mediamadness267]

Third and final Insta profile, this time featuring Mark S. from Lumon industries! My knowledge of his character is pretty much limited to S1 E1, but I think it's a pretty accurate reflection of his initial character!

[foone]

I am once again asking unfiction creators to consult with some retrotech people.

Please, just ask "hey could you do this on an N64?" and more importantly "would you do this on an N64?".

"Do CRTs look like this?" "How do VHS tapes work?" there's so many simple questions that'd make your work so much more authentic and we'd be happy to tell you all about how you can do that.

[mediamadness267]

I love this example of how even a more specific medium (old video game tech versus modern stuff) can impact how a game or genre of game is interpreted and enjoyed.

[nor1akii]

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

At the crossroads, don't turn left.

[scenef3ver]

At the crossroads, don't turn left

At the crossroads, don't turn left

At the crossroads, don't turn left

At the crossroads, don't turn left

[mediamadness267]

Another great Minecraft ARG!

[mediamadness267]

Looking for a great ARG game? Look no further!

Be sure to check out this Gravity Falls companion game, Cipher Hunt!

[nerdyganiii]

I made an unfiction/arg tierlist! (THERE ARE NEWER VERSIONS OF THIS ONE ON MY PINNED!)

Surprised I haven't posted this here sooner, but I recently created the newest version of a list im making compiling hundreds of series including 300+ series, all labeled! I'm not finished with it yet as I'm still watching more things to put on the list, but I've been really passionate about this project and I've met a lot of really cool people while doing so!

[mediamadness267]

Here's a cool tierlist a fan made of a bunch of different ARG's; I can't speak to most of them, but I love how this is a great piece of media to engage community discussion!

[in-love-with-movies]

Earth to Echo (2014)

[mediamadness267]

This movie to me in more ways than one meets at least some of the qualifications of a screenlife film (though not in the horror genre).

10/10 would recommend!

[ralphfiennes-world]

Happy first anniversary of Conclave!

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since Conclave premiered in theaters!

Ralph Fiennes delivered a masterful performance once again - commanding the screen with quiet intensity and emotional depth. His portrayal of Cardinal Lawrence was a reminder of why Fiennes remains one of the most captivating actors working today.

Over the past year, Conclave has continued to spark conversations about faith, power, and morality, and Ralph’s performance remains at the heart of it all. Whether you saw it on the big screen or discovered it later, this film still feels as thought-provoking and relevant as ever.

Here’s to Conclave - and to Ralph Fiennes, whose artistry only grows richer with time. ❤️

Have you rewatched it since last year? What moment or scene still stands out to you the most? Let’s discuss🫶🏻

[mediamadness267]

I didn't realize how recent this movie was; also I like how the author of the post is specifically utilizing it for discussion within the community!