Too many people derive their ego from their work...

What role will corporations play in the future?

Corporations and their impact on society is a complex and nuanced topic. As consumers, we often think of corporations as faceless entities, solely driven by profit and greed. However, corporations play a crucial role in our economy and have the potential to shape our culture, values, and beliefs in ways that are both positive and negative. As individuals and artists, we understand that the actions of corporations have an impact beyond immediate description. This subject matter is rarely discussed or expressed because people are trained to think in a gross materialistic way at a very young age through pop culture and celebrity/ego worship. Materialistic indoctrination forces one to see corporations (or businesses) as mere profit-driven machines.

But corporations are not just about profit. They are also about power, control, and influence. They shape our perceptions and beliefs through the products and services they offer, the way they market and advertise, and the values they promote.

EGO

Erich Fromm, a psychoanalytic thinker, argued that corporations could be seen as an extension of the individual ego. He believed that in capitalist societies, people's sense of self and identity becomes fused with their work and the corporations they work for. The constant need for productivity and consumption in such societies creates a sense of emptiness and lack of fulfillment in individuals, and people turn to their work and the corporations they work for as a way to fill this emptiness and find meaning and purpose in their lives. This creates a kind of "pseudo-individuality," in which people's sense of self is determined by their relationship to the corporations they work for and the goods they produce and consume.

On the other hand, Zygmunt Bauman, a sociological thinker, argued that corporations and consumer culture are part of a "liquid modern" society. Bauman argues that the constant changes and uncertainties of contemporary society have led to a sense of emptiness and lack of identity in individuals. He believes that people constantly seek to fill this emptiness with consumer goods and brands, which have become the new gods that people turn to for a sense of meaning and purpose.

CHANGE

As we move towards a more technologically advanced and connected world, the relationship between individuals and corporations may change. The possibilities of virtual and augmented reality may also change the way in which we consume goods and interact with brands, leading to a shift in the way individuals define themselves and their relationship with corporations.

The impact of technological advancements on work and identity is a complex and important topic that deserves further consideration. How will the changes in work sectors affect how people perceive and identify themselves? With so many people currently deriving their identity from their work, it is crucial to consider how these changes will affect our values and our ability to empathize with others.

How can we adapt and evolve as individuals and as a society in the face of these changes? Just something I think we should be thinking about…