Black Mirror: A Thought-Provoking Examination of Technology and Society
Sometime in the year 2019, my cousin Tejiri — with whom I shared precious moments together watching the Black Mirror series, said to me “Take out your phone and look at it. What do you see?”. I saw myself, after which he asked “What is the colour of your screen?” I told him it was blackish, to which he retorted with two words “black mirror”. This was no isolated incident, Tejiri is always bubbling with wisdom.
To fully grasp the meaning behind his words, let’s explore the significance of Black Mirror further.
Exploring the dark side
Black Mirror by Charlie Brooker is a product of the writer’s introspection on his interaction with evolving technology. It goes beyond exploring the mere facets of modern technology; it actively exploits the underbelly of the society that employs it. By delving into the influence of immersive gaming on relationship dynamics, the transformation of a fictional children’s character into a political candidate and a global cultural icon, the repercussions of extreme helicopter parenting, or the insidious consequences of social media animosity. The series fearlessly touches nerves on the flip side of humanity’s relationship with technology.
Game of consequences
One of my personal favourites Episode 6 of Season 3: Hated in the nation. Set in a future devoid of bees: a devastating consequence of the thoughtless games we play with our environment. The episode further explores the ADI (autonomous drone insects) project designed to replace bees in the ecosystem. The project consumed immense resources, ADIs became ubiquitous and eventually was used by a villain as a perfect assassin against members of the very society it was designed to serve — in a twisted social media game of consequences.
It is a stark reminder of the repercussions that arise from the games we play with nature.
The thesis
Novel solutions often come hand in hand with novel problems, and our society must navigate learn to resolve or coexist with these issues. Failure to address them could potentially lead to our downfall: the decay of our civilisation. This forms the central thesis of the Black Mirror series.
Black mirror puts sober reflection in perspective
In 2011, before the series premiered, Black mirror creator Charlie Brooker wrote: “The ‘black mirror’ of the title is the one you’ll find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, a smartphone.”
When we gaze down at our favourite devices, their screens typically black, we see not only our own reflections but also a reflection that is darker. It is a stark truth that we must confront: the potential for our own darkness. This realisation weighs heavily on our choices and actions. These black mirrors serve as a metaphor for our capacity for darkness, inviting us to engage in sober reflection. They reveal the depths of our flaws and the consequences of our actions.
In conclusion, the Black Mirror series serves as a captivating exploration of the complex relationship between technology and society. By shining a light on the darker aspects, it forces us to confront our own potential for darkness.