Black Mirror

Question 1

What genre is Black Mirror?

Answer 1

Could be classified as ‘speculative fiction’ or ‘dystopian’ sci-fir, where specific elements of our contemporary world are exaggerated and distorted in a near-future setting.

Question 2

What is the main theme of Black Mirror?

Answer 2

The effect of technology on human bodies and consciousness.

Question 3

What genre is San Junipero?

Answer 3

Sci-fi romance, but also a ‘period’ peace due to a lot of the action being based in the 80s and 90s - with music and production design to match. Also has elements of 80s teen movies like Pretty in Pink. Many older audiences would not only enjoy the plot but also the nostalgia for the different time periods.

Question 4

What can be said about the choice of same sex couple?

Answer 4

Could be put under the coming-of-age genre. Critics praised the episodes for avoiding the tragic ending that is conventional for same-sex romance narratives,

Question 5

What speculative fiction conventions does Black Mirror use?

Answer 5

• The protagonists are ordinary people trying to negotiate the impact of technology on their lives. E.g Kelly and Yorkie arguing over whether or not to pass over.
• No clear antagonist in most episodes - the technology produces conflict.
• Following the convention of taking something recognisable from our reality and its pessimistic impact on the lives of the characters.
• The anthology format offers different audience pleasures (give example).

Question 6

What is some intertextuality and it’s meanings in San Junipero?

Answer 6

Kelly’s costume in the 1987 segment inspired by Control era Janet Jackson.
- Music in Tuckers, references time period but also the central romance (heart and soul by t’pau) and the concept of the show (living in a box). You could say that it adheres to Goodwin’s Dancing in the distraction factor where he says we see a relationship between lyrics and visual, in this case the audience is unaware initially.
- Shots of other vintage technology like Pac-Man and Top Speed trade games help establish a sense of time and place.

Question 7

How can Todorov be applied to San Junipero?

Answer 7

Equilibrium - Yorkie going to the nightclub and meeting Kelly.
Disruption - Losing each other in different time periods or the revelation that San Junipero isn’t real.
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Question 8

What are elements of media language in San Junipero and their meanings?

Answer 8

Clothing - Binary oppositions between Yorkie (also does not change throughout the narrative) and Kelly’s clothing (referring strong female pop stars) and how it reflects on their individual personalities.
Iconography and setting - Use of sets, props and costumes challenge our expectations of a science fiction show (give examples).
Audio - Song heaven is a place on earth, living in a box - contribute to our understanding of the characters’ lives. And helps foreshadow and hint at elements of the narrative, acting as a clue for viewers.

Question 9

Consider how genre conventions are socially and historically relative, dynamic and can be used in a hybrid way.

Answer 9

• Same sex romance reflects social change from 20th to 21st century.
• Has a happy ending - differing from usual. e.g ‘Thelma and Louise’ reference where they drive into the sunset. Subverts common portrayal of LGBTQ relationships as tragic/doomed.

Question 10

How can Steve Neale genre theory be applied?

Answer 10

Genres are recognised through repetitiveness but marked through change.
- Introduces elects of nostalgia, not common for sci-fi
- Romance is a same-sex love affair

Question 11

What are some representations in San Junipero?

Answer 11

• Their sexuality is not portrayed as problematic, the love between them has many obstacles but their sexuality is not one of them.
• The fact it ends up being 2 elderly women in love with each other challenges stereotypes of that age group.
• Quagmire represented as less positive, as lost souls
• Interracial relationship, 2 elderly women one whose physically disabled challenges representations of multiple social groups.

Question 12

How can bell hooks be applied?

Answer 12

-She says patriarchal forces men and women in patriarchal roles.

Question 13

How can Judith butler be applied? (gender performativity)

Answer 13

• She says gender is not a fixed characteristic but a social construct.
  -People perform gender roles by their clothing, hair, behaviour etc.
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Question 14

Industry context on Black Mirror

Answer 14

• Create by Charlie Brooker and Annabelle Jones
• First season produced by Zeppotron for Channel 4
• Channel 4 is not for profit even though they’re commercial, the money gained form adverts is put back into funding the shows they produce
  -Brooker was inspired the the relationships people were developing with digital technology
• Netflix then bought distribution rights in 2014 and commission season 3 and 4 in 2015
• After the first 2 season Channel 4 delayed season 3 because of budgetary constraints.
• Consider different in style and tone between UK produced and US produced seasons

Question 15

How can Hesmondhalgh be applied?

Answer 15

Minimising risk and maximising audiences.
-Netflix invest a lot into their productions and leave creative control to the show runners, lead to diverse range of products.

Question 16

How does Black Mirror and San Junipero attract audiences?

Answer 16

• First two seasons on channel 4 so attract a presold audience

Question 17

How can Stuart Hall be applied?

Question 18

How can Henry Jenkins be applied?

Question 19

Media language examples to set the scene

Answer 19

Mise en scene
- Posters (the lost boys, scream, the Bourne identity) musics, costume
helps audience identify where they are in time
- Use of extreme close ups suggests their growing connection with each other
- High key lighting in the later scenes of them outside of San Junipero gives off a very futuristic feeling, helps distinguish between reality and San Junipero, also reinforced by the colour pallet being very white and modern.
- Lot’s of shot reverse shots to emphasise the binary oppositions