Black Mirror Flashcards
Who are the creators of Black Mirror?
Charlie Brooker and Annabelle Jones
What distinguishes Black Mirror from many contemporary TV dramas?
It follows an anthology format with standalone episodes
What type of fiction is Black Mirror classified as?
Speculative fiction or dystopian sci-fi
How many episodes were in the first two seasons of Black Mirror?
Six episodes (three episodes each)
In what year did Black Mirror move to Netflix?
2016
What is the main theme of Black Mirror?
The unpleasant effects of technology on human bodies and consciousness
What genre does the episode San Junipero fit into?
Sci-fi romance
What is notable about the tone of San Junipero compared to previous seasons?
It has a more emotional and optimistic tone
What significant awards did San Junipero win?
Emmy for ‘Outstanding TV Movie’ and ‘Outstanding Writing’ in 2016
What is the first step in Todorov’s five-step narrative structure?
Equilibrium
In San Junipero, what does the equilibrium reveal?
The nightclub is an artificial virtual reality
What does the disruption in San Junipero involve?
The characters meeting and losing each other in different time periods
What is unique about the antagonist in Black Mirror episodes?
Usually, the technology itself produces conflict
Fill in the blank: San Junipero challenges stereotypes of ______.
elderly women
What is the significance of the relationship between Yorkie and Kelly in San Junipero?
It is a positive portrayal of a same-sex relationship
How does San Junipero portray LGBTQ+ relationships differently from traditional narratives?
It avoids a tragic ending for the same-sex couple
What does bell hooks identify as a major problem in society?
Patriarchal power
According to Judith Butler, what is gender?
A fluid social construct
What does David Gauntlett’s identity theory suggest about media consumption?
Audiences borrow from media texts to construct their identity
What production company created Black Mirror’s first season?
Zeppotron
What was the initial distribution rights situation for Black Mirror in the US?
Netflix bought exclusive US distribution rights
What did Brooker aim to explore through Black Mirror?
The intimate relationships people develop with digital technology
True or False: San Junipero is a traditional science fiction narrative with a clear antagonist.
False
What genre conventions does Black Mirror often subvert?
Dystopian fiction conventions
Fill in the blank: The music in San Junipero serves to establish the ______.
period setting
What does Neale’s theory suggest about genres?
Genres are marked by difference, variation, and change
What does the character Kelly’s shift in relationships represent?
The fluid nature of sexuality
What cultural event influenced Brooker’s decision to include a same-sex relationship in San Junipero?
Donald Trump’s election as US President
What does the episode San Junipero reveal about the representation of older LGBTQ+ characters?
It portrays them positively and challenges stereotypes
What significant change occurred after the first two seasons of Black Mirror?
Black Mirror would become a co-production with a US institution.
Which company bought exclusive US distribution rights for Black Mirror in 2014?
Netflix.
How many new episodes did Netflix commission for Black Mirror in 2015?
12 new episodes.
By 2016, in how many territories was Black Mirror available?
80 territories.
What production company did Brooker and Jones form in 2020?
Broke and Bones.
What reason did Channel 4 give for delaying the commissioning of a third season?
Budgetary restraints.
Who described the move to Netflix as ensuring Black Mirror would be ‘bigger and better’?
Lucy Pyke.
What is one of Hesmondhalgh’s key ideas regarding the internet’s radical potential?
It has been limited by the domination of large cultural institutions.
How do streaming services like Netflix differ from traditional TV channels concerning creative control?
They leave almost all creative control to the showrunners.
What is a characteristic of media texts that distinguishes them from other manufactured goods?
They are usually purchased just once and continually reused.
What allows Netflix to experiment more compared to traditional TV channels?
Its subscription-based model.
The Black Mirror brand has expanded into what type of productions in collaboration with popular YouTubers?
Webisodes.
What theme does Black Mirror particularly target among audiences?
How technology impacts individuals and society.
What type of audience may be particularly attracted to the episode San Junipero?
LGBTQ+ audiences.
According to Stuart Hall, what are the three modes of reception for media texts?
- Dominant/intended meaning * Negotiated meaning * Oppositional meaning
What does the dominant/intended meaning refer to in Hall’s reception theory?
The audience accepts the intended meanings and ideology of the text’s producers.
What is the negotiated meaning in Hall’s reception theory?
The audience accepts some meanings but rejects others.
What do audiences who interpret media texts oppositional meaning do?
They reject the intended meaning and formulate their own interpretation.
What does Henry Jenkins assert about fandom?
It is a deeply personal and creative relationship with media products.
Why might audiences not identify with particular characters in Black Mirror?
It is an anthology show with standalone episodes.
What fan creation has emerged particularly from the episode San Junipero?
Fan art and femslash-fiction.
