black mirror san junipero

Question 1

who is the creator of black mirror

Answer 1

charlie brooker

Question 2

who is charlie brooker

Answer 2

• writer and creator
• cyclical producer known for creating post modern media and dark themes

Question 3

examples of charlie’s past successful shows

Answer 3

nathan parley, dead set and newswipe establishing a pre sold audience for genre motif

Question 4

who produced black mirror

Answer 4

charlie’s production company worked w endemol to create series 1&2 for channel 4

Question 6

where was series1&2 on channel abialiable in

Answer 6

over 80 countries

Question 7

how was a large fan base for black mirror established

Answer 7

through broadcasting on channel 4 so fans followed to netflix

Question 8

what gives black mirror an unique selling point

Answer 8

anthology series eg every ep is self contained and diff from the rest

Question 9

what is the downside of black mirrors unique selling point

Answer 9

meant set/cast couldnt be reused which increased budget

Question 10

what did the expensive budget of black mirror lead to

Answer 10

• channel 4 decided it was too expensive to fund and therefore reached out to other companies to co-produce such as netflix, amc, hbo

Question 11

who was black mirror sold to and when

Answer 11

sold to netflix for $40 million in 2015

Question 12

how was series 3 released

Answer 12

• all released simotanenosly into netflix reflecting the growing consumer trend of binge watching
• Deloitte data indicated that 70% of US consumers binge-watched TV,

Question 13

what did the new high budget of black mirror mean for san junipero

Answer 13

• allowing set locations such as south africa & london despite being set in california
• american actors, special effects, rights of 80s songs

Question 14

what controversial themes did previous episodes have

Answer 14

one ep plot was pm having sex with a pig on live tv

Question 15

why might san junipero be ‘americanised’

Answer 15

1st written ep for netflix despite being ep 4

Question 16

why did charlie not want to americanise all the series 3 episodes

Answer 16

would alienate existing fans

Question 17

what did netflix release pre release of black mirror 3

Answer 17

a range of teasers including a post modern mashup trailer using clips from friends

Question 18

what else of black mirror did netflix commission

Answer 18

commissioned series 4, 5,6 and interactive spin off called bandersnatch

Question 19

what was an integral way of marketing done by netflix

Answer 19

‘suggested’ homepage

Question 20

what interactive methods of marketing were used

Answer 20

s3 promoted via board game linked to ep called nosedive and an interactive online web game

Question 21

what was released on spotify for the promotion of san j

Answer 21

soundtrack of san junipero attracting older aud into the period peice

Question 22

what was the book called released for black mirror

Answer 22

inside black mirror
- explains producers thought process behind each ep

Question 23

what was made at thorpe park synergising the black mirror brand

Answer 23

maze called “black mirror labryinth” attracting a global audience
- although closed down in 2023

Question 24

how is yorkie represented

Answer 24

• displayed as a loner through wide angles and loose framing
• silence reflects lack of confidence with is exaggerated by plain clothing
• clothing plays into the geek archetype
• seen with coke instead of alchahol making her seem immature/doesn’t fit in
• try’s on diff looks & identities hinting she isn’t comfortable w herself

Question 25

how is kelly represented

Answer 25

- initially seen via group shots socialising - glamorous bold costume evoking confidence - says “i am bodacious” - shot reverse shot used to seperate kelly/yorkie

Question 26

how is wes (man bothering kelly) represented

Answer 26

- regularly harrassing kelly reflecting issues on toxic masculinity and unwanted attention - men represented as far less important than women reflecting post modern world/female aud - complex portrayal of women - differs from other eps as female led

Question 27

representation of sexuality

Answer 27

- representing a marginalised group in an unusual but empowering way e.g not sexualised - bisexuality emphases through colour pallet lf flag - bisexual usually repped as promiscuous however san j makes it romantic - still a rep of sexuality being ‘taboo’ with yorkie saying everyone is looking when they danced hinting homophobia even in a post modern world - older lesbians

Question 28

representation of ethnicity

Answer 28

- interracial couple reflects “timeless’ nature of world

Question 29

representation of age

Answer 29

young and old (binary opposite) young seem as dancing and energetic whilst old is calm and hospital led - might create a sense of realism despite the advanced world

Question 30

how is netflix regulated

Answer 30

as the headquarters are in amsterdam, the streaming site is not regulated by ofcom so they can get away w more taboo topics eg set ep covers euthanasia

Question 31

how is the episode first established

Answer 31

through misce en scene used to set location era and characters

Question 32

what iconography is americanised

Answer 32

ocean , car

Question 33

examples of intertextuality

Answer 33

- ‘heaven is a place on earth’ by belinda carlisle - lost boys film poster (80s) - 80s arcade games eg pacman - don’t you forget about me by simple minds when trying on clothes - scream film poster (80s)

Question 34

how does the episode emphasise kelly n yorkies growing connection

Answer 34

close up shots

Question 35

what is the conventions when they are old

Answer 35

- high key lighting and wide angles maybe to emphasise heaven

Question 36

how does it convey to sci fi conventions

Answer 36

track out to robot with loads of people

Question 37

how does the show infer sex without showing

Answer 37

scene of them taking clothes off and kissing then to beach at night with waves crashing

Question 38

what is the conventions at the quagmire club

Answer 38

fast paced

Question 39

how does the episode reinforce genre conventions

Answer 39

- advanced technology (hallmark of sci fi) , highly advanced virtual reality where consciousness can be uploaded - exploration of versimilitude of human identity / consciousness e g questioning if digitalised consciousness is real and if the simulation after death is a continuation of life

Question 40

how does episode subvert genre conventions

Answer 40

- period setting rather than futuristic aesthetic, submerge viewers into 1980s aesthetic through intertextuality eg heaven is a place on earth, lost boys poster, arcade games

Question 41

how does it avoid tragic lgbtq tropes?

Answer 41

many lgbtq stories esp in science fiction fall into the “bury your gays” trope where queer characters meet tragic ends

Question 42

what is temporal fluidity

Answer 42

reflects the evolution of sexual identity across time

Question 43

why may yorkie be relatable for queers

Answer 43

she experiences a queer awakening posthumously

Question 44

how does it subvert stereotypes on hereosexual relations

Answer 44

kelly is seem to say to wes the sex was causual whilst he says has connection

Question 45

what other shows is black mirror similar to?

Answer 45

the twighlight zone or tales of the unexpected

Question 46

what genre/theme can black mirror be subjected to

Answer 46

speculative fiction / dystopian sci fi

Question 47

what awards has black mirror won

Answer 47

Black Mirror was placed on many publications’ ‘Best TV of the 2010s’ lists and won an Emmy in 2012 for ‘Best TV Movie’. the Emmy for ‘Outstanding TV Movie’ and for ‘Outstanding Writing’ in 2016.

Question 48

what political context as the time influenced charlie’s desicion to add a same sex couple

Answer 48

trump winning the presidential election. Trump is a right-wing politician, who vocally condemns liberal and progressive ideas, especially ideas regarding gender and sexuality. His appointment was widely feared by members of LGBTQ+ communities.

Question 49

how many the quagmire be perceived as negative representation of sexuality

Answer 49

portrayal of more extreme alternative sexualities seen in the Quagmire fetish club are less positive, representing these characters as ‘lost souls’.

Question 50

why might kelly be a bad representation of bisexuality

Answer 50

- seen as promiscuous fucking people them leaving eg wes saying ‘u too’ to yorkie - married to man ‘rebelling’

Question 51

what disability does yorkie have

Answer 51

Yorkie is a quadriplegic woman, paralyzed since age 21 due to a car accident. The accident occurred shortly after she came out to her conservative parents, who then rejected her and took control over her medical decisions.

Question 52

good representation of disability

Answer 52

• Not a Tragedy Trope: Yorkie’s disability is treated seriously but not sensationally. Her life is not portrayed as worthless, but rather incomplete due to societal constraints, not the disability itself. • Agency Restored: She chooses to enter San Junipero permanently—a radical act of autonomy, especially considering her family’s lifelong control. • Sexual Identity Reclaimed: Yorkie had never experienced a romantic or sexual relationship in her life. In San Junipero, she is shown:

Question 53

why may black mirror be seen as ableist?

Answer 53

Escapism vs. Erasure: Does choosing an able body imply internalized ableism? • Conforming to Beauty Norms: Is queer liberation in San Junipero tied to youth and beauty?