Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
BLACK MIRROR: REPRESENTATION - Coggle Diagram
BLACK MIRROR: REPRESENTATION
HOW REPRESENTATIONS MAY INVOKE DISCOURSES AND IDEOLOGICAL AND POSITION AUDIENCES
Brooker said the first draft of the script had heterosexual romance at its centre, but he decided to change this to a same-sex relationship as a comment on the acceptability of LGBTQ+ relationships (including gay marriage) in the 80s and 90s
the episode was warmly received by the LGBTQ+ community, especially as the sexuality of the characters is not portrayed as problematic
the love between Yorkie and Kelly has numerous obstacles, but their sexuality is not one of them
the revelation is that the relationship is between two elderly women also challenges stereotypes of this age group
though both characters do physically die by the end, spiritually they remain together for eternity
this subverts the common portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships as doomed of tragic
EFFECT OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT ON REPRESENTATIONS - REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
Brooker has said he deliberately wanted to create more female and non-heteronormative characters in BM after realising the first season focused on straight male protagonists
he said that it is 'powerfully resonant' that same-sex relationship ships would have been condemned in 1987 and some of the other time periods
adding to this was the context of Donald Trump is a right-wing politician, who vocally condemns liberal and progressive ideas, especially ideas regarding gender and sexuality
his appointment was widely feared by members of LGBTQ+ communities
the fact that this is an inter-racial relationship between two elderly women, one of whom is physically disabled, also challenges more stereotypical representations of these social groups
the episodes double Emmy and BAFTA wins were welcomed as a cultural shift towards more positive attitudes towards same-sex relationships
the portrayal of more extreme alternative sexualities seen in the quagmire fetish club are less positive, representing these characters as 'lost souls'
FEMINST THEORY - BELL HOOKS
identifies patriarchal power as a major problem in society
she says patriarchy victimises both women and men, forcing them into stereotypical roles, and punishing them if they do not conform to these roles
SJ challenges this view by portraying a 'heave on earth' where the female LGBTQ+ characters are free to interact, flirt, have sex and fall in love without the disapproval or persecution of patriarchal society
GENDER PERFORMATIVITY - JUDITH BUTLER
Butler asserts that gender is not a fixed, biologically determined characteristic, but rather a build
social construct
she suggests people 'perform' a gender role composed of clothes, hair/makeup, posture and other behaviours
its interesting that though 'anything is possible' in the virtual environment, both the main characters choose to remain female
IDENTITY THEORY - DAVID GAUNTLETT
he asserts that audiences actively borrow from media texts to help construct their identity: 'a narrative of the self'
these are not stable, they are fluid, depending on the media text and characters being consumed
long form multi-protagonist dramas offer audiences a range of different characters for audiences to identify with
BM departs from this, as each of the episodes is self-contained, usually focusing on one or two main characters
SJ has been widely acclaimed by critics by the LGBTQ+ community for showing a healthy, optimistic portrayal of a same-sex relationship, the result of which has had a very positive effect on queer viewers' sexual identity
Kelly's shift from a heterosexual marriage to a LGBTQ+ relationship with Yorkie also suggests a build nature to sexuality