Black Mirror - Nosedive

Black Mirror - Nosedive Critical Literacy

24. Whose views are excluded or privileged in this text?

Throughout this episode of Black Mirror, we never see any children or many elderly people. The people who's views seem to be favoured are adults aged from their early twenties to perhaps mid forties. Are children rated in the same way adults are?

27. What view of the world is the text presenting?

This episode portrays that social media is a negative thing which we rely on more than we should, and that can destroy people's lives. It also shows that the majority of people base their opinions on people off of how they look.

11. How are adults constructed in this text?

In this visual text, adults are perceived as extremely judgemental and over critical. They base their opinions on people off of both stereotypes and how they are rated. People with lower ratings are treated no better than criminals, whereas those with higher ratings are treated like royalty, A person's rating - in a nutshell - is based on their social interactions and the popularity and aesthetic of their social media feed. People with a higher rating also tend to lack the ability to seem genuine. Everyone is scared of saying what they really mean.

What does the term 'nosedive' mean? How do you see this in the story?

The term 'nosedive' refers to going from being at the top to drastically plummeting to rock bottom. We see this throughout the episode - Lacie starts with a rating of 4.3, but by the end her score is below one and she's in a jail cell, no longer having the capability of caring about anything.

What are the positive and negative aspects of this type if rating system?

The negative aspects out-number the positive. Rating someone is brutal, especially based on their looks and social status alone. It will innevitably end in many people being judged unfairly. The only positive aspect of this sort of rating system is the fact that people instantly know other's names and certain things about them without having to ask, which saves having to go through a potentially awkward situation if you forget their name or something.

In this story, what characteristics lead to good ratings for females?

- Marrying/getting together with a rich/popular guy

- Being pretty, super fit, successful

What scenes did you find most uncomfortable/disturbing?

The entire scene where Lacie showed up looking like an absolute mess at her 'friend's' wedding and made her speech was mildly uncomfortable,, but mostly just due to second-hand embarrassment.

How realistic of a future do you think 'nosedive' is?

The obsession with social media and the concept of a rating system isn't all that unrealistic - however I feel that the things in their lives that are controlled by their rating isn't as realistic, e.g; the houses they can buy, where they can work etc.