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The Dropout

A deft parable of entrepreneurial hubris
by
ABR Arts 11 April 2022

The Dropout

A deft parable of entrepreneurial hubris
by
ABR Arts 11 April 2022
Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes in <em>The Dropout</em> (photo by: Beth Dubber/Hulu)
Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout (photo by: Beth Dubber/Hulu)

If there is a logical successor to the twentieth-century gangster epic, it may well be the modern-day high-stakes corporate drama. Both revolve around merciless protagonists operating by their own dubious moral code, amassing wealth and influence as they leave a trail of bodies (literal or figurative) in their wake. Instead of intimidation and assassination, our new corporate anti-heroes leverage powerful attorneys and hostile takeovers. Instead of doing business in the smoke-filled backrooms of family restaurants, they operate in biophilic, open-plan offices (and on the stock exchange). Instead of working outside capitalist structures, they bend it to their will. And instead of concealing their crimes and leading a double life, they are openly celebrated, sitting on boards and delivering TED talks.

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