Black Mirror (San Junipero & Striking Vipers))

Question 1

Who was Black Mirror originally produced by and who is it produced by now??

Answer 1

Originally: Channel 4
Now: Netflix

Question 2

Where does Channel 4 get its funding?

Answer 2

Advertising
It also uses the money that higher earning shows earn to fund newer/lower earning shows (it’s non-for-profit)) = Robin Hood Model

Question 3

What is Steve Neale’s genre theory??

Answer 3

Genres are dominated by repetition but also variation.
They develop as they overlap (hybrid) and genres exist within specific economic contexts)

Question 4

How does Baudrillard’s theory apply to genre??

Answer 4

Traditional categorising of genres has changed by so many overlapping now (hybrids)

Question 5

What 2 genres is San Junipero??

Answer 5

Sci-Fi & Romance

Question 6

What is narrative??

Answer 6

How the plot is delivered

Question 7

What is Todorov’s theory of Narratology??

Answer 7

Narratives have a basic structure of:
1. Equilibrium
2. Imbalance/disequilibrium
3. Narrative is resolved (the way this is done can have ideological significance)

Question 8

How do postmodernism and the genre theory link in San Junipero??

Answer 8

The idea of Sci-Fi that we have is changed and interpreted in a new way (e.g. Sci-Fi products are usually more dystopian but San Junipero is more utopian)

Question 9

How is period piece iconography used in San Junipero??

Answer 9

To reinforce the Sci-Fi aspect by reminding the audience of the different periods and the time travel

Question 10

Why is the romance in San Junipero maybe not coming of age??

Answer 10

Neither Yorkie or Kelly are actually coming of age. However, Yorkie is still experiencing everything for the first time whilst Kelly is not

Question 11

How are Yorkie and Wes linked??

Answer 11

They are binary oppositions. Yorkie is representative of heaven whereas Wes is representative of hell.

Question 12

What were Kelly’s 2 late family members called??

Answer 12

Husband = Richard
Daughter = Allison

Question 13

Give 3 examples of the period piece iconography used!

Answer 13

• Hairstyles
• Fashion
• Cars
• Architecture
• Neon lighting (big thing in the 80s)
• Music
• Films (The Lost Boys 80s, Scream 90s, Bourne Identity 2000s)

Question 14

Why is The Celluloid Closet doscumentary important for San Junipero??

Answer 14

• it shows how far same-sex relationships have come in the media
• it provides, historical, social and cultural context
• It gives a better idea of why San Junipero is so important

Question 15

What were the 2 theories involved in San Junipero gaining its own fandom?? (fandom theory: Jenkins)

Answer 15

Identity (Gauntlett)
End of Audience (Shirky)

Question 16

Why is the opening scene so significant for the representation??

Answer 16

It is a natural interaction
There’s no questions of if the other woman likes women or not, it just flows normally

Question 17

What is the significance of this binary opposition being resolved:
‘True to vs prejudice oneself’ (Kelly vs Yorkie about their sexuality)

Answer 17

Once it is fixed, it isn’t mentioned again because their sexuality isn’t the main issue. the technology is made the main issue for their relationship rather than their sexuality which is against a lot of tropes used in media.

Question 18

Why is it important to include the Quagmire (hell) when trying to represent Heaven?

Answer 18

It is difficult to have a concept of heaven when there is no concept of hell to compare it to.
Heaven is built on culture, hell is built on an alternative lifestyle to this

Question 19

What are the 3 main binary oppositions in San Junipero??

Answer 19

• Heaven v Hell
• True to v prejudice oneself
• Young v Old

Question 20

Why is the end of audience theory important for San Junipero?

Answer 20

The communication between audiences and to producers has united marginalised people

Question 21

What is the significance of The Quagmire??

Answer 21

Taboo sexual acts and violence never make it to mainstream.

Question 22

What are 3 pieces of cinematography seen in the Quagmire scene??

Answer 22

• Tracking shot (Yorkie’s lack of space, claustrophobia)
• POV shot (people looking at Yorkie and therefore the camera confronts audiences directly with 4th wall breaches)
• Ringing noise replacing the music (overstimulated -> relating to anxiety on the dancefloor)
• Chain-link fence (trapped, prison, some kind of limit)

Question 23

How does the End of Audience theory (Shirky) differ between Striking Vipers and San Junipero??

Answer 23

There’s less fan-made content for Striking Vipers because less people resonated with it and found it impactful.
San Junipero presents same-sex relationships in a new light, so there’s lots more fan-made content.