Black Mirror Flashcards
Context and Media Language
Who Created Black Mirror- what genre is it
Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones created a science fiction Anthology Show- like the Twilight Zone each is a Standalone narrative
When did the first seasons air
The first two seasons (three episodes each) aired in the UK on Channel 4 in December 2011 and February 2013; in 2016 it moved to streaming platform Netflix for seasons three to six
what is speculative fiction and what other genres can we consider as involved in other Black Mirror Episodes
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. Each episode also uses conventions of other genres, e.g. police procedural (Smithereens), horror (The Black Museum) or political satire (The Waldo Effect).
Who is Charlie Brooker?
The ‘showrunner’ for all five series is journalist and comedy writer Charlie Brooker. He has collaborated with a range of other writers including his wife, Konnie Huq, and Succession creator Jesse Armstrong.
What is the synopsis for Black Mirror- how has the tone changed since the shift from a channel 4 production to Netflix
The main theme of Black Mirror is the (usually unpleasant) effect of technology on human bodies and consciousness. Some have noted that the first two series were bleaker than the Netflix produced seasons (including the focus episode San Junipero) which has a lighter tone
What has Black Mirror Won or been nominated for? What has San Junipero won?
Black Mirror was placed on many publications’ ‘Best TV of the 2010s’ lists and won an Emmy in 2012 for ‘Best TV Movie’. San Junipero won two Emmys for ‘Outstanding TV Movie’ and for ‘Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series’ in 2016.
Steve Neale- Genre examples of repetition and difference in the sci-fi genre
REPETITION- vehicle that takes elder Kelly to visit Yorkie (futuristic, but recognisable)
Technology: the button on the head used to enter San Junipero Hospital building/uniforms of staff
Robot at the end at Tukr Systems (with the flashing lights signifying all the different virtual worlds being created)
Greg refers to ‘talking on the comms box’ with Yorkie; and how she has been ‘sampling the trial version’ of San Junipero.
DIFFERENCE-The narrative in dystopian fiction (inc. Black Mirror) conventionally has an unhappy ending – San Junipero is unusual in that it shows the more hopeful (though nonetheless problematic) aspects to virtual reality technology and ends on an optimistic note.
Unlike conventional sci-fi dramas there is little ‘technical’ jargon or language
Steve Neale- repetition and difference in the romantic genre
REPETITION= two opposites meeting and falling in love; facing obstacles to their life together; eventually having a ‘happy-ever-after’
DIFFERENCE- Same Sex Couple, not a tragic ending, introducing elements of nostalgia, 80s ,90s, 2000s settings
How is Black Mirror Speculative Fiction
The protagonists are ordinary people trying to negotiate the impact of technology on their lives in the near future. This differs from ‘hard’ sci-fi such as the Star Wars or Star Trek franchises that feature traditional heroes, spaceships, aliens etc. (an exception to this is the Black Mirror episode USS Callister where many of the ‘space opera’ conventions are played for laughs or are subverted).
In most episodes there is no clear antagonist – usually it is the technology itself that produces conflict with the main characters.
Most of the episodes follow the conventions of dystopian fiction – principally, the extrapolation of something recognisable from our contemporary reality (like social media approval in the episode Nosedive) and its pessimistic impact on the lives of the characters.
How is there speculative fiction prevalent in San Junipero?
the characters exist in a virtual world, their relationship is set within San Junipero; the episode raises issues around euthanasia/assisted dying; whether to live on forever (‘passing over’) or to chose a traditional death (and the unknown).
how could SJ be a ‘period piece’
much of the action takes place in the 1980s and 90s, with appropriately detailed production design and music. It also has elements of 1980s teen movies such as Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club. Older audiences would not only enjoy the plot but also the nostalgia for the different time periods.
how could SJ Be an LGBTQ ‘Coming of Age’
The focus on a same-sex couple could also put
the episode in the LGBTQ+ ‘coming-of-age’
genre such as Moonlight or Blue is the Warmest
Colour. Critics praised the episode for avoiding
the tragic ending that is conventional for samesex romance narratives.
Intertexuality in SJ
. Kelly’s
costume in the 1987 segment was specifically
inspired by ‘Control’-era Janet Jackson.
How could SJ be seen as post modern
-intertexual references
-technology of the VR
- near future setting of Yorkie and Kelly
not too far that the iconography is no longer recognisable
breify describe simulacra
in a postmodern age of simulacra we are immersed in a world of images which no longer refer to anything ‘real’. Media Images have come to seem more real than the reality they supposedly represent.
how is San Junipero ‘anti realist’
hyperreality, highly saturated
how does San Junipero have intertexuality
Yorkie getting ready- homage to the breakfast club indicating what era they are in
how does San Junipero have ambiguity
‘pain slider set to zero’ ‘this isn’t your era’ ‘two hours until midnight’
narrative fragmentation…
Baudrillard’s example of postmodernism and the mention of ‘one week later’
Barthes semic codes
Symbolic Codes
Enigma Codes
Action Codes
Referential Codes
Semiotic Codes
Levi Strauss Binary Opposition
Oppsition between life and death
Kelly and Yorkie
Discuss the intertexual reference of the lost boy poster
- acts as an advert for San Junipero within the narriative frame
what was the budget for SJ
£1.1 million
how did they save money of filming
- did not film in USA- filmed in London or Cape Town
- songs were expensive
What do Yorkie’s clothing codes represent her as
conservative, androgynous, anxious and an outsider
she is an archetypal ‘nerd’ character’
Yorkie leaving glasses by the beach
Yorkies new freedom in SJ
who has overall creative autority on Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker
who produced the first two seasons of BM
-Zeppatron for Channel 4
- as A PBS channel, channel 4 struggled to meet the bugetary demands of Brooker and Jones creative ideas
how many territories was Black Mirror available in by 2016
80
who produced seasons 3-5
House Of Tommorow- a division of edemol Shine
what did Brooker and Jones do in 2020
formed Broke and Bones
what is Netflix
A major stakeholder in Broke and Bones who will eventually acquire the production company over the next two years. for 100 mil
what did season three’s higher budget allow for
- A/B list actors Bryce Dallas Howard in Nosedive
-directors like Joe Mike
How does Netflix as the distributor of Black Mirror support of challenge curran and seaton
- netflix is the largest global ditrubutor however there is a diveristy in production
