This document analyzes the Black Mirror episode "Be Right Back" through several postmodern and media theory lenses. It discusses how the episode explores themes of intertextuality, dystopia, hybridization, and artificialness through its portrayal of technology that can digitally resurrect the dead. It also examines how the episode challenges audiences' understanding of grief, relationships, and humanity through its depiction of a woman using an AI version of her deceased husband that lacks true emotion. Finally, it considers the intended niche audience and impact, exploring themes of modern technology, social media, and human cloning.

1. Black Mirror Analysis
Be Right Back

2. How is this episode postmodern?
(PoMo features)
 Intertextuality = Tablets, I phones, touchscreen, cyborgs (similar to the
matrix, Reborn from the nano-bots and synthetic clone)
 Dystopian narrative = the world is taken over by technology and there is
a replacement for everything (the island) – movie. People can be replaced
artificially, like the terminator effect, the uprising of technology. Adding a
sense of horror and expectancy of terminator.
 Hybridisation = futuristic, romantic, drama
 Flattening of Affect = the clone has no recollection of empathy or
emotion, he only knows the information that is fed to him. Like a computer
removing the humanistic nature of the character.
 Artificialness = When the clone resurrects it only brings back an artificial
version of her husband and it does not fil her expectancy and have the
qualities that she misses the most. Also it shows that the way we show are
self's on social media is artificial and not the real us and just a platform
were we show are best bits.

3. How can you apply Baurillard’s
theory?
(hyper reality)
Hyper reality of their artificial world -
 The robot of her husband is a Perfect version - it has its best features of him.
 grieving has new advanced solutions
 Social networks can determine someone's personality.
 robots become more of the person the more they learn and information they are
fed.
 Communicate on social media to the dead (simplified version of complex human
emotions)

4. How can you apply Foucault’s
theory?
(panopticanisation & voyeurism)
Panopticms and voyeurism:
Voyeurism – when Martha sees ash’s clone she craves sexual pleasure and attention
especially at the start when she seems him naked .
Panopictism – The robot of ash does not fully act like ash. It only simulates the things ash
would say. It has discipline and acts in a different ways to ash would
Voyeuristic slaves – The experimental avatar system that Martha signed up to was to
tempting for her when grieving, even though as one point it seemed like she was not going to
participate in the system when he friend signed her up.

5. 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 black mirror it
shows new ways that are online profile can be used to create a simulated version of us and
also how it only shows are positive emotions and feeling as this is what is mostly posted on
social media.
 current TV dramas = Much more advanced technology used in the drama focusing how it can
help people suffering from grief.
 It challenges traditional media (such as TV shows/films/advertising) because it challenges the
concept of getting attached to something that is not real and is all based on ‘social media’. It
shows how that social media only portrays are ‘best bits’ and is not the real us. This is what
Martha discovers with the avatar of Ash.
 Most romantic films end with a happy ending but this one ends with a dull ending were the
daughter is left with a robotic dad who lives in the cupboard, dehumanising it.

6. How is it similar to other media?
(similar to current media or traditional media)
The TV shows deals with grieving and the emotional hurt of losing someone close
 Current TV drams = Similar TV dramas/documentaries /films based on the
representation of society and social media are – catfish, Live in public and
disconnect)
 Current films = Similar films / TV shows that involve cloning are – Star Wars, Ex
Machina and The Island.

7. What type of audience is this episode made for?
What sort of impact does Charlie Brooker want on this
audience? Why?
 For niche audience – it is on channel 4 but the series will only appeal to a small amount of
people, the episode isn't light hearted and it requires a strong knowledge about the uprising of
modern technology and how it can effect us in the future.
 Audience theory: Is it effects or reception?
 Effects theory = passive audiences who accept and take in messages in texts
because they are easily influenced OR
 Reception theory = active audiences who challenge/question messages in text
 Due to the way this black mirror episode has been create it would be for passive
audiences who accept and take in the messages in the texts about how social media
and technology is very powerful and has potential for something like cloning in the
future. This showing the effects theory.

8. What types of technology and
media are explored in black mirror?
• Media themes
 Dependence on technology
 Impact of social media
 Showing on the best you on social media
 Impact of modern technology
 Human cloning
 Greif.

9. Discuss the concept of narrative in black
mirror, does it challenge or reinforce?
Linear narrative mostly –
reinforces the concept of narrative.
Non liner narrative –
 As the program advances to the future. This challenges the concept.
 Martha has given birth to a daughter, it is her birthday
 Ash is kept in the attic and the daughter is only aloud to see her at the
 weekends
 This is confirming to society of divorced parents and they tend to have
 schedules of when they can see their children.