OFFICE SITUATIONSHIP
Pop culture's on & off relationship with the workplace
Several years ago we collectively buried the workplace sitcom. The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock… It was sad, kinda, as it gave birth to some of the best comedy gems of the 90s/2000s. It was relatable, simple, and, at times, even inspiring us to find purpose in our work environments.
Yet, at some point, the veil must fall. Workplace scenarios depicting the office as a place of community building, where one finds friends, love, and mentorship, began to seem as out of touch with reality as an SF show. I love my work and colleagues, but I think I relate more with the Halliwell sisters from Charmed, anxious, experiencing helplessness, and dating literal demons, than Amy Poehler’s cheerful, hyper-optimistic character from Parks & Recs. It was time to stop romanticizing the workplace.
Of course, this Pop Culture shift didn’t come from nowhere. The #MeToo movement gave voices to women sexually harassed by male coworkers, in France we had Balance ton agency/start-up etc calling out abusive management and the newcomer Start Up “family” type of organization made workplaces look even more delusional. No one actually believed that we could find personal fulfillment with foosball tables, and forced smiles from tech bros.
But freedom came at last and covid arrived, releasing us from our office yoke. Oh blessed were the days when we discovered remote working! Of course, not being allowed to go out and see our friends was shit, but Zoom meetings in bed? Priceless.
YET, when I just thought we had finally freed ourselves from workplace fantasy, I started noticing something strange on my Instagram feed. Suddenly reels popped up showcasing women having the best of time with their colleagues, doing #OOTD, TikTok challenges…
Here we are, back at it again, office madness looming.
So let’s go back to our long-lost workplace sitcoms: are there any signs of a comeback? A redemption ark for the office?
If you think of the toxic kitchens of The Bear, or the dissociative state of Severance, serious dramas seem to have understood the challenge, portraying the leanings for distrust of the workplace. Yet, at the same time, Abbott Elementary started airing, a classic workplace sitcom in an elementary school. Just as a decade ago, episodes only take place inside the school walls, with topics related to work challenges, and colleagues relationships.
The show is a huge hit, earning many accolades. A perfect comeback for the workplace sitcom. But if you look more closely, you’ll notice how things have changed since the Golden Age of the Office. In Abbott Elementary, everything is difficult. They have no money, they’re helpless, and if the cheerful Leslie Knope-type character remains the protagonist, her optimism is used as comedy relief, often depicted as utterly delusional. The school itself is realistic, taking place in a poor area, showing the class struggle of the afro-american community, and the main character isn’t the manager or leader. The school principal is a type of Michael Scott, but even more insane, without any of the “oh he’s nice he might be a better leader than we thought”.
In fashion, the workplace came back as well.
Going to the office means dressing up, pulling out hypocritical smiles, taking on a role “the goofy colleague”, “the wise leader”, or fashion’s favorite “the office siren”.
The Office Siren is the archetype of the seductive woman looking for male prey in her workplace. Think of Alan Rickman’s affair in Love Actually for instance. She’s a temptress, with small glasses and tailored-cut skirts.
Pop culture’s most famous office sirens can probably be found in The Devil Wears Prada. And guess what? Yep. They’re back. They’re shooting a sequel now, and a musical is set to start soon in London with Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly and Elton John providing the score.
Yep, workplace drama still holds its appeal.
So, as more and more companies are telling us to come back to the workplace - and it is not that simple (see Ubisoft’s recent strike to protest remote working). Let’s keep an eye on how Pop Culture depicts office culture in the next few months/years. I wouldn’t be so surprised to see Office Frenzy coming back…
Thanks for reading me!
Tchuss
