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Faith Davies

Humanities Essay

Black Mirror is a good show to watch if you are into science fiction and if you like to be

on the edge of your seat. Each episode is different (or anthology) but by the end of the show it

leaves you wondering what is real and what is fake. We live in a very technological world,

everything we do is either centered around our phones or computers. In some ways it is really

hard to escape being glued to these machines, because it is what helps us at the end of the day. In

this episode of Black Mirror Black Museum theories such as Symbolic Interaction, Critical

Theory, and Double Consciousness Theory. This show is a warning to not fall victim to our own

machines and be the one that is being controlled.

This episode was the episode that was the most interesting in the whole series because it

is unique, and it has a complex story behind it. In the opening scenes Nish (the main character)

pulls over to a gas station to recharge her retro-futuristic car. She then notices that there is a

black museum (which foreshadows more sinister issues). The owner of the museum Rolo then

greets her and asks her to come inside and see the attractions. We the viewer also see that there

are many crazy inventions from previous episodes in the Black Mirror universe and stories that

haven’t been told. Without these different stories and objects the meaning would not be

memorable. It would be hard to paint a picture without using technology that we think are

ordinary and distort their meaning to something more sinister. The many artifacts that we see
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throughout the show would be considered symbolic. This is because each item has their own

value that contributes the plotline. They are filled with heartwarming stories as well with grief.

Max Weber the theorist behind Symbolic interaction would note that without these items the

characters in the Black Mirror universe would not know how to effectively communicate.

Without the symbolism we would not realize that we should not be too caught up in materialistic

things and focus more on family and friends.

Karl Marx would also have a kick at this as well. A doctor in the show is symbolic for

using his self-gratification and using technology to take advantage of others. In the near future

people who do not have healthcare can sign up for trial runs in exchange for free healthcare. The

doctor in question, gets a device that is able to feel what another person is feeling via a implant

in his head and headgear put on the person as well. His need for wanting to ‘help” people turns

into sexual gratification because he is turned on by the pain that they are feelings. This device is

supposed to only help him the medical to help diagnose pain and other problems that are going

on with the patient. Overtime it gets too much and he is addicted, and he begins to act out trying

to find his next “victim” or “medical tragedy” to fix. This can be a parallel with the addiction of

our devices, when we consume to much of it, we can turn into monsters or behave in ways that

aren’t normal. Look at social media and how it affects us on a daily basis. We live our lives

based on what we see on a screen.

The last theory that should be mentioned is Double Consciousness. It was coined by W.

E. B Du Bios and he claimed that those who are racist feel that they are superior to their

counterparts. In the show, it is discovered that going to this black museum was a ploy to get her

father back. Her father was executed but his conscious was then uploaded as a “cookie” which is

like the cloud but for your mind. The owner of the museum Rolo, has an exhibit that is a
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hologram with him conscious at the time of Nish’s father’s execution onlookers could pull the

lever of the machine to simulate pain and terror and a trinket is given to them to remind them.

After doing research, it is discovered that this was a nod at death row and cruel punishments for

people who are claimed to be innocent. But the writers of the show did it in a way that you

wouldn’t have realized.

To conclude this essay, I would like to mention that I personally was blown away at the

sociological theories and concepts that could be found throughout this series. It was hard trying

to choose an episode because they are all really good. However, I knew that this one would be

fun to analyze because there are many twists and turns. Another reason would be that the

concepts are not obviously unless you read between the lines. I will take these concepts that I

have learned and try to see if I can find them that applies in the real world as well.