Analysis of Black Mirror Episode

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Analysis of Black Mirror Episode
Black Mirror is a British black comedy television show that follows an anthology format whereby each episode has its own standalone storyline. It explores themes related to morality and how technology influences society, usually in a satirical way. The show’s first episode depicts a scenario in which a high ranking member of the British government is blackmailed into performing a rather embarrassing act that is broadcast on live media. It is eventually revealed that the antagonist had intentionally orchestrated the blackmail in order to highlight people’s unhealthy obsession with the media. The episode’s storyline and main theme relates the sociological concept of how globalization and technology influence a global culture.
In the episode titled The National Anthem, a female member of the British royal family is kidnapped. The kidnappers promise to set her free if the prime minister will do something: have sexual intercourse with a pig, with the act broadcast live on national television and across the world. A video of Susannah, the princess, making the outrageous demand, is leaked on the internet where it goes viral and is watched globally by almost anyone with an internet-connected device.
The despicable nature of the demand is what makes it so appealing to the people. A young girl has been kidnapped and her life is at stake. However, her fame and celebrity status also matters. Had the hostage been an ordinary and unknown citizen, people across the world would not have cared much. Such a situation would have presented the PM with an easier choice of ignoring the kidnapper’s demand. However, the fact that a beautiful, famous and beloved princess is the hostage, the leader would be under pressure to do anything to save her.
Chapter two of the text titled Culture and Society examines how globalization affects contemporary culture. Globalization has resulted in the bringing together the world’s cultures that were initially isolated, thus forming a global culture. According to Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, and Carr (64), the forces that trigger a global culture include technologies such as television, the internet, and electronic communications. Computers, smartphones, social media and other forms of online platforms have made it possible to have instant communication across virtually all parts of the world. Such communication is an integral part of people’s day-to-day life, as depicted in the episode. The princess kidnapping is spread via the internet such that every person with access found about it almost immediately. Also, the kidnapper demands that the PM’s act be broadcast live on television where millions across the globe get to watch.
Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, and Carr (65) argue that a global culture influenced by technology together with an unlimited and uncensored access to information includes a need to instant gratification. This effect is seen in the way the public reacts to the kidnapper’s demand. The moment the idea of watching the PM having sex with a pig on live television is on everyone’s head, they cannot get it out. They no longer care about how disgusting the entire act sounds. As far as they are concerned, the PM’s brief awkward experience and subsequent humiliation are nothing when compared to the princess’ death. The leader is eventually pressurized into doing it, which is exactly what the culprit wanted all along. The kidnapper had no intention of hurting the princess, and in fact sets her free unharmed even before the live broadcast began. He just wanted to highlight a global culture characterized by people’s obsession with the media and its content.Works Cited
Brooker, Charlie. Black Mirror. Zeppotron, 2011.
Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum, and Deborah Carr. Essentials of Sociology, Norton, 2019. Print.
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