This document provides discussion questions and analysis of the Black Mirror episode "15 Million Merits". It explores how the episode examines postmodern features, hyperreality theory, panopticism and voyeurism. It compares the episode to current and traditional media, analyzing how it both challenges and reinforces other forms of media. Key technologies like social media, reality TV, and surveillance are critiqued. The intended audience and impact on viewers is also assessed based on effects and reception theory.

1. Black Mirror Analysis
15 million merits
(due 27/04/16)

2. Questions
• How is this episode postmodern (pomo features)
• How can you apply/relate Baurillard theory
• How can you apply/relate Focault theory
• How does it differ or challenge other media (could compare to other current media
or traditional media)
• How is it similar to other media? (could be other platforms)
• What type of audience is this episode made for? What sort of impact does Charlie
Brooker want on this audience? Why?
• What types of technology and media are explored in black mirror?

3. How is this episode postmodern?
(pomo features)
• Intertextuality = Wii/Mii’s…..X factor/talent shows…..ipod
(motions)…….touch screens…….pop ups……emoticons
• Dystopian narrative = dark/grim take on future from the effects of
technology
• Hybridisation = drama, future, reality,…..
• Flattening of Affect = some characters lack morality/empathy
(chubby guy on bike)
• Artificialness = they live in a mere artificial (hyperreal)
world….waking up to ‘sun’ ‘rooster’…….the apple…..the ‘image’ of
the success of the ‘stars’

4. How can you apply Baurillard’s theory?
(hyperreality)
• Hyper reality of their artificial world
– avatars (mii’s) in audience
– Their rooms (virtual realities)
– How they communicate (emoticons) (simplified
symobols of complex human emotions)
– Living in artificial/hyperreal rooms/worlds (virtual
experiences)

5. How can you apply Foucault’s theory?
(panopticanisation & voyeurism)
• External audience = we’re watching others watching others
• Internal audience = voyeuristic slaves – they are dependent on WATCHING various
things, watching screens (various) – inc reality TV, watching reality TV
• Being watched changes you = etc the girl on the show (she is forced to say yes
(exploitation) (panopticanisation) (judges are very judgemental/abusive/influential
– influence the audience easily (group mentality)…..psychology theorist (we’re so
easily influenced)
• Their voyeurism is a metaphor for their slavery = they cycle (work) to watch
(buy/consume) shows that enslave them (without an audience it can’t exist)
• Scopopphilia = (pleasure in watching other bodies) – the voyeurism of the porn
“wraith babes”

6. How does it differ or challenge other
media? (could compare to other current media or traditional media)
• Modern technology advertising = such as Apple or Samsung……..they
advertise their new and innovative products which are always portrayed
to enhance our lives in POSITIVE ways….black mirror makes us think about
how it is affecting us negatively
• Current talent shows & current TV dramas = a much darker/grim take
(challenge) (example = dr who)…….
Also - (heightened level of mockery/abuse (ex of the blond liverpool girl
who auditions and gets booed/abused – although this does currently happen in current reality
shows doesn’t it?!)
• It challenges traditional media (such as tv shows/films/advertising)
because it challenges the concept of ideology. Previous media was very
much about the concept of ‘the perfect image’ (in sitcoms – perfect
families, in advertising = perfect beauty.etc etc.) but this show attempts
to represent harsh and awakening realities of the effects on people

7. How is it similar to other media?
(similar to current media or traditional media)
• Reality TV shows (panoptican) catfish, big brother,
xfactor etc
• Current TV drams = similar raw/nitty gritty/harsh
representation of reality / the world / social issues /
characters (celebration of the underdog)….such as
‘run’ on channel 4
• Current films = dystopian (Hunger Games) (or any
other dystopian film set in the future about
technology (minority report, matrix, truman show etc)

8. What type of audience is this episode made for?
What sort of impact does Charlie Brooker want on this
audience? Why?
• For niche audience (not mass as it is not typical tv drama with a more light hearted approach
like Dr who)
• Audience theory: Is it effects or reception?
– Effects theory = (passive audiences who accept and take in messages in texts
because they are easily influenced (hyperdermic needle theory)
OR
– Reception theory = (active audiences who challenge/question messages in texts)
– *It could be both
• Reception theory = obviously made for a more niche audience who have some interest in
technology/impact of technology and more ‘challenging’ texts as they know Charlie
Brooker himself likes to challenge conventions
• Effects theory = however, like the main black character, in the end he gives into the
system which he hates (he gets his own channel) while in some ways is ‘empowering’ but
it also ‘enslaves’ him as he is ‘part of the system’. While it could be argued we are
watching a text that enables us to question the impact of technology and make us ‘think’
we are also watching TV like any other program (notice while watching on 4OD every so
often we HAD to watch pop up advertising!!!!!)

9. What types of technology and media
are explored in black mirror?
• See intertextuality…..
• Media themes
– Surveillance
– Dependence on technology
– Impact of media in online age
– Privacy
– The meaning / role of celebrity

10. Discuss the concept of narrative in black
mirror, does it challenge or reinforce?
• Fairly linear = which is typical in TV drama so
reinforced
• Is it entirely reinforced though? Anything
about it challenging?

11. Task
• Complete same PowerPoint to this, for the
episode Be Right Back
‘Be right Back’ (season 2)