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Black Mirror Flashcards

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1
Q

Industry

Charlie brooker

A
  • The writer/ producer of Black mirror
  • Well known for creating postmodern media and ideas about technology
  • His involvement attracts pre-sold audiences who may be cult fan of his work
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2
Q

PRODUCT CONTEXT

series 3, episode 4

A
  • Black Mirror is a science fiction anthology TV show - THIS IS WHERE EVERY EPISODE IS SELF-CONTAINED AND TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY. = this explores a diveristy in genres
  • Black Mirror recalls vintage anthology shows like The Twilight Zone with each episode acting as a standalone TV movie
  • This inceased production costs as they needed new locations/ set, cast and props for each episode.
  • Black Mirror could be classified as ‘speculative fiction’ or ‘dystopian’ sci-fi, where specific elements of our contemporary world are exaggerated and distorted in a near-future setting
  • The first two seasons (three episodes each) aired in the UK on Channel 4 = channel 4 is not a profitable company = funding would have been expensive (Netflix later bought it)
  • The main theme of Black Mirror is the (usually unpleasant) effect of technology on human bodies and consciousness
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3
Q

industry - ecomonic

High budget in black mirror

A
  • the episode was located in serveral global locations including south africa
  • They cast american actors and also create a number of visual effects using
  • was able to afford the rights to a number of songs from the 1980’s period
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4
Q

Context

A
  • The serires had gained a reputation for dark and controversial plots.
  • pushing boundaries that other programs didint
  • san junierio has a different tone to previous episodes, with a focus on americanised aesthetics, and a less gritty outlook. as opposed to its british content.
  • There are themes of euthanasia which are often a taboo
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5
Q

economic context

MARKETING STRATERGY:

A
  • Netflix released a range of teasers for the series
  • Asoundtrack available yo purchase
  • an online interactive web game was also available range of posters were created to tease the episode/series
  • an inside black mirror book
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6
Q

Keywords

SPECULATIVE FICTION

(S.F.)

A

A category of fiction that includes stories featuring unreal elements like time travel.

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7
Q

What makes this a science-fiction program? Consider…

  • the narrative
  • themes
  • iconography
A
  • urban landscapes
  • different realities
  • time travelling
  • science world having minimalist colour palette: white, grey, silver (emotionless)
  • stimulated environment
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8
Q

Genre/ themes of san juniperio

A
  • classed as a sci-fi romance
  • a period piece (as much action takes place in the 80’s) = older audiences will enjooy the nostolgia

THEMES
- broken love triangle
- teen drama
- life vs death
- older vs young
- supernatural vs humans

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9
Q

Uses and gratification theory with BlackMirror

Bulmer and Katz

A
  • elements of dystopian/utopian world = creates escapsim for younger audiences (especially those who are in to games)
  • elements of technology = helps inform the audience about the negatie impact
  • this episode allows the audience to pick and mix the pleasures and use what they want to get out of the text.
  • enables a variety of different audiences (older or young) to negotaite the series
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10
Q

Songs used in SJ

A
  • Gilfriend died in a coma’ = foreshadows the end
  • ‘Heaven is a place on earth’ = Heaven emphaises eternal happiness, live happily ever after
  • Music used in the Tuckers
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11
Q

Structure: Todorov

A
  • Equilibrium - Introduction to San Junipero - Highlight on Yorkie’s introverted character (ingenue) - Youthful and utopian life - Technology isn’t the main plot line of the narrative - Yorkie and Kelly old and living in the hospital and care home (real life reality)
  • Disequilibrium/Disruption- - Establishing the characters and who they are (Yorkie’s introverted personality juxtaposes Kelly’s extroverted personality that pushes Yorkie to have fun, to the point she’s uncomfortable)
  • Recognition -Kelly never passes over -The Kelly that Yorkie sees is a computer generated copy.
  • Resolution -Kelly decides to pass over her consciousness to San junipero.
  • New Equilibrium - Embracing technology and happily in love (fairy tale ending) - Yorkie leaving her glasses on the beach (can see the beauty of life without a lens of restrictions holding her back) - Yorkie “feeling San Junipero” and feeling free from her parents’ restrictions - Happiness gained in a lesbian relationship -Happy Ever-after -Heaven is a place on earth
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12
Q

strenght and weakness of todorov

A

> helps the audience recognise the social and cultural context- ideologies
allows them to position the sotryline
< x:story structures are continuously adaptiong - steve neale
< x:binary oppoion - strauss

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13
Q

Structualism binary oppistion

A

A Binary oppositions can be used to create stereotypes and promote certain ideologies or beliefs.
Real Life - San juniper Past- Present Mortality- Immortality Old Relationships- New Relationships Heterosexual- LGBTQ+IA Dynamic and Fun (Tucker’s)- Subtle and Calm (Nursing Home) Yorkie (Introverted)-Kelly (Extroverted) Vintage Technology-New Technology

See notion

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14
Q

Media language

A
  • The 1980’s diegetic club music, as well as the costumes, hair, make up and film posters
  • intertextual references of gamer, the tuckers
  • scream poster = help the audiences to signpost the exact time period.
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15
Q

costume

A
  • Kelly’s intense makeup, heavy jewllery, revealling Janet Jackson inspired clothes = suggests she’s popular, outgoing
  • yorkie : plain outfits & glasses clearly identify Yorkie a geek
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16
Q

cinemotgraphy

A
  • close up shots signifies their growing connectionn and feelings of intimacy = whenever theyre together
  • Higher key light & wide angles of white spaces adds to the futurisitic hosipital setting
  • The track back scene of the multiple identical lights emphaises the sheer number of people who have uploaded their consciousness into the virtual world.
17
Q

Editing

A
  • shot-reverse-shot used to emphaises the differences between the two binary opposite characters = adds conflict and drama.
  • In terms of representation, we could also say that this has been used toseperate their personailities/differences creating opposition.
  • The sudden cut from kissing in bed, to the waves crashing on a beach, acts as a symbolic image for sexual gratification
  • Fast paced editing during the Quagmire club helps to signify it as being a thrilling, dark, chaotic place
18
Q

Diagloue

A
  • There is an authentic and compelling tone to the dialogue between Yorkie and Kelly that is both flirtatious (“I’m regarding you”) and wary.
  • When the ‘real world’ is revealed, there is a notable absence of ‘tech heavy’ terminology that would be usual for the science fiction genre – this keeps the emphasis on the emotional core of the narrative.
19
Q

Engima codes

A
  • why does the characters and camera keep focusing on the time / midnight
  • why does yorkie feel out of place?
20
Q

Postmodernism

Buadrillard - Hyperreality theory

A
  • often focus on ‘what if’ and futuristic technology
  • His theory of hyperreality posits that in contemporary society,(throughthe advaments of technology) its difficult from distinguishing between the blurring of lines on what’s real vs artificial.
  • This can be applied to the virtual reality (VR) system portrayed in the episode = individuals upload their consciousness to a simulated world, living out their afterlife in a nostalgic.
  • (challenges traditional notions of life and death)
21
Q

characteristic of postmodernism

A
  • bricolage (collage of borrowing from different text) = The use of songs like “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” and “Girlfriend in a Coma” by The Smiths.
  • intertextuality (reivention)
  • ambuigity (things that are not clear/double meaning)
  • mixing genres
  • homage (pays respect to another text or style)
  • loss of historical links e.g. bridgerton - futuristic afterlife that borrows heavily from 1980s culture
  • anti-realists (disorted narrative)
  • fragmented narrative (doesnt not follow todorov narrative e.g. flashbacks)
22
Q

baundrilard - postmodernism

simulacra

A
  • when media texts, replaces the real = leads to hyperreality
  • images cannot represent the real e.g. in san junieperio the deceased can live in an artifical world
  • reality vs tech? = loss of reality (lacking versimilitude) - think of it lack something that is very similar to.
  • artficial copies of the real.
23
Q

postmodernism - intertextuality

A
  1. Kelly’s Bold Costume:
    • Kelly’s 1987 costume is inspired by ‘Control’-era Janet Jackson, reflecting her confident and bold attitude.
  2. Yorkie’s Geeky Appearance:
    • Yorkie’s plain clothes and glasses convey her awkwardness and lack of confidence, fitting the ‘geek’ stereotype.
  3. Consistent Character Presentation:
    • Yorkie’s costume does not change throughout the narrative, avoiding the typical ‘nerd makeover’ trope seen in teen movies like The Breakfast Club.
  4. Futuristic and Retro Settings:
    • The episode features modern settings like high-tech hospitals and props, emphasizing a technologically advanced society alongside classic arcades, vibrant dance clubs, and retro-styled homes.
  5. Music as a Historical and Romantic Element:
    • Music in Tucker’s nightclub, such as “Heart and Soul” by T’Pau and “Living In A Box,” evokes the historical period and underscores the central romance and the concept of virtual reality.
  6. Symbolic Use of “Heaven is a Place on Earth”:
    • The song “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle emphasizes San Junipero as a digital heaven created by man, distinct from traditional religious interpretations.
24
Q

Representation

Yorkie

A
  • wide angles and loose framing represents Yorkie as isolated/lonely
  • silenct/ not socially confident
  • immature = doesnt really party/drink etc
  • wes regularly harasses Kelly which reflects issues of toxic masculinity and the way women are oftn subject to unwanted attention - not taking ‘no’ for an answer
25
Q

Representation of women

A
  • The representatin of women is diverse/modern
  • woman are shown as emotional, caring, romantic and nuturing which is conventional sterotypes of their gender
  • However, they also could have alot of resentment/frustration, could also be more independent= the influence of feminisation
  • Many BM episodes has been led by white males. This episode is female led = appeals to wider audience
26
Q

Representation

Kelly

A
  • seen as desirable, popular
  • costume suggests she is glamorous and confident
  • mise-en-scen aso frames yokie+kelly seperately = helping illustrte difference in personalities/appearence
  • doesnt want wes = suggest independent = challeneges expectaion
27
Q

representation of sexuality

A
  • through the colour palette, purple, pink etc
  • sexualty is a key theme of the show
  • many other films represent bisexual characters as promiscous and potentially first to die wheras SJ subverst this through romanticisim
  • Yorkie is still shy/tryna figue it out with her sexuality = suggests that some people feel unconfortable being ‘out’ about their sexuality for fear of ridicule/discrimination.
  • How does San Junipero create an empowering queer - - an inter-racial relationship between two elderly women, one of whom is physically disabled, also challenges more stereotypical representations of these social groups.
28
Q

Diversity in SJ

A
  • An inter-racial couple = appeals to other demographic
  • represntation of age: the youth = full of enegery, free, happy. Older characters = dependent, in poor health etc. Typical conventions/sterotype
  • promotes realism
29
Q

Jenkins - fandom theory

A
  • fan form part of a participotary culture
  • the circulation of fan theories about the programme (e.g. Kelly and Yorkies LGBTQ love story) demonstrates that fans
    are active participants of textual meanings
  • The way in which fan fiction and fan art = fans appropriate texts and read them in ways that are not fully authorised by the producers of the programme
    The way in which fan forums such as the SJ’s subreddit and the SJ’s Fans Twitter.
30
Q

bell hooks

A

San Junipero challenges bell hooks view by portraying a ‘heaven on earth’ where the female LGBTQ+ characters are free to fall in love without the disapproval or persecution of patriarchal society.

However,

  • Kelly’s body is buried in the same graveyard as her husband
  • This burial raises questions about her connection to her heterosexual family.
  • Kelly’s lesbian relationship and intimacy occur only in the virtual space.
  • This implies that lesbianism or homosexuality is secondary to heteronormative relationships in the context of the story.
31
Q

Gender Perfomitity - Judith

A
  • identity is not fixed but performed and constructed through repeated actions.
  • Yorkie, who in real life was paralyzed and lived a restricted life, is able to express her true self and explore her sexuality in San Junipero, highlighting the performative nature of identity.
  • Liberation in Gender perfrormity - The virtual reality of San Junipero provides a liberating space where characters are free to perform identities and relationships that they were unable to in their real lives.
  • Yorkie’s exploration of her sexuality and her relationship with Kelly can be seen as acts of gender performativity
32
Q

hall

Audience

A
  • ## Preferred Meaning: The episode is celebrated for its inclusive and positive representation of a queer romance, providing a rare and uplifting narrative for LGBTQ+ audiences..-
  • ## Negotiated Meaning: ethical questions about the virtual afterlife and acknowledging the episode’s optimism while considering real-world implications.-
  • Oppositional Meaning: Critiques about the episode’s lighter tone and potential oversimplification of complex moral issues reflect a broader concern that “San Junipero” may sacrifice critical depth for a more accessible, feel-good narrative.

First two seasons were far darker in tone (channel 4), Netflix-produced seasons are too sanitised and ‘Americanised’. Moral questions about euthanasia, life after death?

33
Q

David Hesmondhalgh - Cultural Industries

A
  • The idea that cultural industry companies try to minimise risk and maximise audiences throughvertical and horizontal integration, and by formatting their cultural products (e.g. through the use of stars, genres, and serials).
  • audience of hybrid genres
  • nosedive
  • MAEKETING : Netflix’s internal marketing - AI generated content - suggested films and episodes plays automatically, teaser of trialers, reviews and interviews
34
Q

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

A

San Junipero,” a “Black Mirror” episode, won the Emmy for ‘Outstanding Writing’ in 2016.

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) aims to benefit the public by providing content that informs, educates, and entertains, while fulfilling public interest obligations.

“Black Mirror,” initially produced by the UK’s Channel 4, fits within the PSB remit through its thematic exploration and narrative depth.

The episode “Nosedive” educates viewers on the societal impacts of social media and the pressures of digital personas.

“San Junipero” promotes diversity and inclusion by featuring an interracial lesbian couple and addresses themes of reality, euthanasia, and digital afterlife, encouraging critical thinking and debate.

see notion

35
Q

Curran & Seaton

A
  • profit and power.
  • nexflix has become a conglomerate gloabally - makes moeny
  • Media concentration generally limits variety, creativity and quality.

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