CHARACTER
My need for a high rating completely consumes my life and wipes away my personality.
Who am I?
Lacie Pound
Black Mirror
It’s important to express your true emotions or you will be unhappy.
Do Brooker and Wright, challenge, question, celebrate or support this idea?
What events highlight this idea? What do we learn?
The creators support this idea.
Self-expression is imperative as seen in the episode, as individuals such as Lacie do not convey their genuine emotions.
Ultimately, she had enough of the ruse that she had to put on, causing a downfall in her life and ranking, but also ironically brought on her happiness due to her authentic self finally emerging.
"I cannot have a 2.6 at my wedding"
Who said this and when?
Naomi to Lacie on the phone as Lacie struggles to make her way to the wedding.
The similar white houses in the opening scene represent what?
How is colour and light used these also?
The idea of sameness and conformity in the community.
The pastel colours represent the seemingly perfect world.
Bringing an old contact with a low four rating as my maid of honor would play well with my guests as I appear more genuine..
Who am I?
Naomi
What is the genre of the episode?
Dystopian
Social media makes people less authentic.
Do Brooker and Wright, challenge, question, celebrate or support this idea?
What events highlight this idea? What do we learn?
The creators challenge the stark reality of inauthentic people.
In the scene where Lacie was at the cafe, she pretended to like the cookie even though she spat it out; she was carefully eating it in a clean and aesthetic way and still posted it online, hoping it would give her a good rating.
Human communication in the episode further showed this inauthentic nature of the characters as conversations were only based on ‘ticking a box’ to receive a good rating. The characters who rejected social media, such as Ryan and the truck driver, were the only genuine personas in the episode.
"In the world, we're all so caught up in our own heads"
Lacie says this in her original speech that she rehearsed in front of Ryan.
The superimposed holograph of Lacie and a mystery man at Pelican Cove highlights what?
This highlights Lacie's most inner desire - genuine human connection.
You could argue that in some way, Lacie believes she will have this is she purchases an apartment at Pelican Cove - this is her true motivation.
I used to be a highly rated citizen - now I am brutally honest and represent those who go against the social rating system.
Who am I?
Susan
Who is writer of episode?
Charlie Brooker
A social media rating does not make you truly happy.
What two characters best represent this idea? Explain how.
Naomi is a prime example of showing how she didn’t have the life she wanted, pretending to be happy with her life.
Lacie at the end also finds liberation when she breaks free from the constraints of the social world, finding validation through herself.
"They are fake smile jail cells!"
Who says this and when?
Ryan on Pelican Cove status as a warning to his sister Lacie.
Explain the mise-en-scene and set design at the social media expert's office.
What is this similar to? Or what was the intentention?
The mise en scene of the room alludes to a psychiatrist office, almost as though Lacie needs to be ‘fixed’ somehow to be a better version of herself. This scene exacerbates the importance of social status.
I am the only character in the text shown to have genuine friends, with whom I can be myself around.
Who am I?
Ryan Pound
Who is the director?
Joe Wright
In a superficial world, it’s possible to lose your status very quickly.
What events highlight this idea? What do we learn?
Some scenes that depict this were the traffic scene and the airport scene.
These highlight the drastic declines where Lacies bumps into someone and how they quickly marked her down.
"You don't know me, so you're not really sorry. You're just mainly awkward 'cause I have sprung some cancer talk at you."
Who says this quote and when?
What is implied or highlighted about this quote?
Susan says this to Lacie in her truck.
Various answers - teacher discretion - though some possibilities here:
It highlights Lacie's learnt inauthenticity as she feels the need to please others.
It highlights Susan's ability to fearlessly tell the truth and be honest.
The acting, specifically body language and facial expression of Naomi and her coworker look similiar to what?
What does this suggest?
They resemble emojis and the inauthenticity of their conversation.
It is clear the two women do not want to talk with each other, but they put on a performance just for likes.
Lacie last name is Pound and Naomi's is Blestowe.
What is implied about the characters through their last names?
Pound has connotations with weight - something that Lacie is highly conscious of, especially as she compares herself to Naomi.
Blestowe sound like "blessed" and "bestow," reflecting her high status and the opportunities..
What historical/cultural reference inspired the episode?
China's credit score system.
What dystopian warning is given to audiences in the episode?
The creators warn of the obsession with technology and social media to the point where we would eventually lose ourselves from continually being on screens.
They also warn of social ranking systems throgh false reality as every single interaction being either small or big are being ranked, through the contact like lenses that are able to identify others and their information feed. Quantification and quantifying aspects (highest ranking).
They want to teach audiences to not let yourself be controlled and limited to expressing who you are based on people's opinion and ‘ratings’ of you.
"Lacie, I got you a smoothie. Got one for everyone, actually. Still a bunch of them for grabs. They’re from the organic stall at the farmers’ market."
Who says this? And when?
What is implied through this quote?
Chester says this to Lacie at the office.
It is implied that Chester is trying to gain approval and redeem his image after a relationship breakdown.
The fact that he has to highlight they are organic is another way to highlight the need to be perfect.
The fact that there are still many up for grabs suggests no one is taking him up on his offer.
The irony lies in Lacie feeling most liberated in the prison scene than in any other part of the episode.
She finally let genuine tears fall and an authentic smile emerge. The dark lighting is shown once again which symbolises the rawness away from the illusion of a perfect world.
Her brother quotes “Fake smile jail cell” earlier in the episode, however it is ironically true in this moment.