Baudrillard - Hyperreality and simulation/simularcra
(artificial representations e.g. apple tango, airbrushing and our lives which are constructed on social networking sites, Facebook.) what is 'truth'?
Debord - Society of the spectacle
(society has been reduced to image and superficialism - style over substance. Big Brother, X-Facor - branding and selling. the image we buy/engage into. Celebrities provide us with false representations of life.
Foucault - The panopticon, knowledge and power.
(prison society - surveillance. A system designed to see everything! Control. CCTV.
In relation to Charlie Brookers' Black Mirror; 15 Million Merits, Foucaults theory of the panopticon can be seen in this particular episode. Foucaults ideas of the panopticon are based on the ideas of a 'prison' design, where those within the prison are under surveillance/being watched constantly - a sense of control. In 15 million merits, everyone must cycle on excersise bikes to earn 'merits' and generate currency. People are forced to watch advertisements and under a watchful eye, if they try not to watch them by closing their eyes the system (prison-like area) can alert/force them to continue watching. I believe this reflects Focaults 'panopticon' because the 15 million merits highlights the future society as if its in a prison setting and that those within the system are under complete control and surveillance!
* X-factor style show within the storyline 'Hot-Shots' - Panopticon / voyeurism
I agree. There is one particular scene which sees the camera angle pan back and widen from focusing on the single cycling room of the story and reveal countless others spread out in an arc, all completely viewable from a central point. A striking resemblance to Bentham / Foucault's designs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautifully constructed, poignant, relevant and chilling, cutting world Brooker has imagined/hypothesised here. Pure artistry and genius.