2. Questions
โข
How is this episode postmodern (pomo features)
โข
How can you apply/relate Baurillard theory
โข
How can you apply/relate Focault theory
โข
How does it differ or challenge other media (could compare to other current
media or traditional media)
โข
How is it similar to other media? (could be other platforms)
โข
What type of audience is this episode made for? What sort of impact does Charlie
Brooker want on this audience? Why?
โข
What types of technology and media are explored in black mirror?
3. How is this episode postmodern?
(pomo features)
โข Intertextuality = Wii/Miiโsโฆ..X factor/talent showsโฆ..ipod
(motions)โฆโฆ.touch screensโฆโฆ.pop upsโฆโฆemoticons
โข Dystopian narrative = dark/grim take on future from the effects of
technology
โข Hybridisation = drama, future, reality,โฆ..
โข Flattening of Affect = some characters lack morality/empathy
(chubby guy on bike)
โข Artificialness = they live in a mere artificial (hyperreal)
worldโฆ.waking up to โsunโ โroosterโโฆโฆ.the appleโฆ..the โimageโ of
the success of the โstarsโ
4. How can you apply Baurillardโs theory?
(hyperreality)
โข Hyper reality of their artificial world
โ avatars (miiโs) in audience
โ Their rooms (virtual realities)
โ How they communicate (emoticons) (simplified
symobols of complex human emotions)
โ Living in artificial/hyperreal rooms/worlds (virtual
experiences)
5. How can you apply Foucaultโs theory?
(panopticanisation & voyeurism)
โข
External audience = weโre watching others watching others
โข
Internal audience = voyeuristic slaves โ they are dependent on WATCHING various
things, watching screens (various) โ inc reality TV, watching reality TV
โข
Being watched changes you = etc the girl on the show (she is forced to say yes
(exploitation) (panopticanisation) (judges are very
judgemental/abusive/influential โ influence the audience easily (group
mentality)โฆ..psychology theorist (weโre so easily influenced)
โข
Their voyeurism is a metaphor for their slavery = they cycle (work) to watch
(buy/consume) shows that enslave them (without an audience it canโt exist)
โข
Scopopphilia = (pleasure in watching other bodies) โ the voyeurism of the porn
โwraith babesโ
6. How does it differ or challenge other media?
(could compare to other current media or traditional media)
โข Modern technology advertising = such as Apple or Samsungโฆโฆ..they
advertise their new and innovative products which are always portrayed to
enhance our lives in POSITIVE waysโฆ.black mirror makes us think about
how it is affecting us negatively
โข Current talent shows & current TV dramas = a much darker/grim take
(challenge) (example = dr who)โฆโฆ.
Also - (heightened level of mockery/abuse (ex of the blond liverpool girl
who auditions and gets booed/abused โ although this does currently happen in current
reality shows doesnโt it?!)
โข It challenges traditional media (such as tv shows/films/advertising)
because it challenges the concept of ideology. Previous media was very
much about the concept of โthe perfect imageโ (in sitcoms โ perfect
families, in advertising = perfect beauty.etc etc.) but this show attempts to
represent harsh and awakening realities of the effects on people
7. How is it similar to other media?
(similar to current media or traditional media)
โข Reality TV shows (panoptican) catfish, big brother,
xfactor etc
โข Current TV drams = similar raw/nitty gritty/harsh
representation of reality / the world / social issues /
characters (celebration of the underdog)โฆ.such as
โrunโ on channel 4
โข Current films = dystopian (Hunger Games) (or any
other dystopian film set in the future about technology
(minority report, matrix, truman show etc)
8. What type of audience is this episode made for?
What sort of impact does Charlie Brooker want on this
audience? Why?
โข For niche audience (not mass as it is not typical tv drama with a more light hearted approach
like Dr who)
โข Audience theory: Is it effects or reception?
โ Effects theory = (passive audiences who accept and take in messages in texts
because they are easily influenced (hyperdermic needle theory)
OR
โ Reception theory = (active audiences who challenge/question messages in
texts)
โ *It could be both
โข Reception theory = obviously made for a more niche audience who have some interest in
technology/impact of technology and more โchallengingโ texts as they know Charlie
Brooker himself likes to challenge conventions
โข Effects theory = however, like the main black character, in the end he gives into the
system which he hates (he gets his own channel) while in some ways is โempoweringโ but
it also โenslavesโ him as he is โpart of the systemโ. While it could be argued we are
watching a text that enables us to question the impact of technology and make us โthinkโ
we are also watching TV like any other program (notice while watching on 4OD every so
often we HAD to watch pop up advertising!!!!!)
9. What types of technology and media
are explored in black mirror?
โข See intertextualityโฆ..
โข Media themes
โ Surveillance
โ Dependence on technology
โ Impact of media in online age
โ Privacy
โ The meaning / role of celebrity
10. Discuss the concept of narrative in black
mirror, does it challenge or reinforce?
โข Fairly linear = which is typical in TV drama so
reinforced
โข Is it entirely reinforced though? Anything
about it challenging?
11. Task
โข Complete same powerpoint to this, in groups,
on set episode
โข Group 1 = ________________
โข Group 2 = ________________
โThe Entire History of youโ (season 1)
โBe right Backโ (season 2)