Do we admire the capacity to hold onto one’s dignity - is that the X-factor?
In a desperate attempt to finally bang something out - before it just swishes around my head as I wait in queues and then I’m scooped by someone - I am now finally getting round to writing a mini review of Black Mirror before the second ep.
This piece is written with minimal reading around the programme - but some tweets have said that they think Black Mirror is the ultimate in indulgent sensationalist nonsense, or words to that effect.
I disagree completely. It was uncomfortable viewing, but really valuable. And here’s why.
A few major issues are dwelling in the collective mind of society right now. A fear about the power of the internet. Doubts about the influence of the media. Wonders about what justifies art – where are the boundaries? Why are there boundaries? What do we expect of politicians? What is unacceptable political behaviour? What qualities do we admire in our leaders? Why does reality TV appeal so much? Does it have any inherent value?
Many people fret that the internet has too much power. There is a great deal of power with anonymous folk on the net – and because they have nothing to lose, there are no holds barred. Vindictive comments and dangerous information can be shared anonymously, giving the individual more power than the keepers of the peace. Freedom, yes, but a lot of loose canons.
Established media can no longer, in this age of social media. ‘shape’ the truth. There is no point in gagging the papers and channels, because the truth will out.
Brooker’s work also touches on the level of influence of the media. Do hiphop lyrics really drive people to be violent? Can art influence life? The intelligentsia places art on a pedestal. We will not accept crimes in the name of religion, but will we accept them in the name of art? – “because we are portraying experience, studying it, it’s not real.” Should there be boundaries?
Our culture of creativity is constantly pushing people to break boundaries, and play with accepted norms – for example, Russell Brand going into work at MTV dressed as Osama bin Laden, the day after 9/11 (which I personally thought was an act of comic genius). Artists are constantly looking for new ways to make people question themselves, and blur the distinction between dreams and reality. But as with the phone-hacking scandal, we are recently being reminded that with our immense freedoms come dangers and responsibilities. These taboos and boundaries can be breached, but is it to our benefit to do so?
Somehow, somewhere in there, does Brooker have a noble aim? That taking something to its extreme in art will stop it being done in life?
With ‘persecution’ of public figures by the press, and X factor contests being modern-day occasions for jeering at people in stocks, for the crimes of ambition and effort, humiliation is our culture’s greatest fear and threat. Do we admire the capacity to hold onto one’s dignity - is that the X-factor?
What is dignity? In Black Mirror, one could argue that the PM character maintains his dignity by sticking to his principles, but he suffers unfair personal repercussions for it. The issue is debated however, whether principles or public opinion are most important. And real society doesn’t seem much clearer on that.
What is dignity? In Black Mirror, one could argue that the PM character maintains his dignity by sticking to his principles, but he suffers unfair personal repercussions for it. The issue is debated however, whether principles or public opinion are most important. And real society doesn’t seem much clearer on that.
Brooker seems to imply that principles are more important than personal dignity in our politicians, and that people do not realise the effects of their pack-mentality behaviour on personal lives. The difference between integrity and dignity is a fundamental one.
In Black Mirror, the PM character’s willingness to go through with ‘the final act’ is seen as strong and admirable by the public. By embracing and accepting embarrassment we are stronger and less vulnerable to exploitation.
But in reality all our figures of the establishment have had their dignity attacked through personal means. We are trapped by our fears of embarrassment. That’s where Rupert Murdoch got his political power from.
But in the internet age there is also such wide access to crudity that maybe personal dignity doesn’t matter any more, or can no longer be preserved.
Embarrassment is a universal currency which the media is currently exploiting. We love the Xfactor because we all know what it’s like to feel humiliated. It’s a very strong emotion. In watching reality shows, we are studying people constantly negotiating the boundaries of social humiliation. Should we break down people’s pride? Is public humiliation a good thing?
Of course, satire is a form of humiliation, and Black Mirror addresses its role on two levels. In discussing things in art, some mud sticks. As with art blackening the name of the PM within the show, does a political satire talking about a PM having sex with a pig, as Black Mirror does, blacken the name of related subjects? Brooker seems to say here that politics is robust – principles outlast embarrassment.
Black Mirror’s a three-parter of course, so I’m intrigued to see how Brooker carries these issues through. I'm not expecting any neat answers though.
The show’s brilliantly ambitious. I hope it’s not one of those ‘make up the ending for yourselves’ ones though! I can’t wait to see how much can be clarified through Brooker’s wit.
And just realised it’s up against the X-Factor final. DEFINITELY A COMMENTARY ON THE ROLE AND POWER OF HUMILIATION IN PUBLIC LIFE. Vindicated. Yeah.
