Instructions: Read the following article about the TV series Black Mirror.

Then
complete the exercises.
‘Black Mirror’: the dark side of technology
June 4, 2019 5.47pm EDT
Retrieved and adapted from https://theconversation.com/black-mirror-the-dark-side-of-
technology-118298

Because technology as its main character, Black Mirror is one of the most fascinating
yet disturbing series of the last ten years. Fascinating, because viewers can easily
identify with most situations. Disturbing, because the technology is hostile: addictive,
invasive, spy, alienating, psychopathic, apocalyptic…

Launched in 2011, Black Mirror not only aims to entertain, but it also invites us to think
about how technology can harm society and transform our behaviour. Each episode
shows how an existing technology could evolve in the near future, for better, or
especially for worse. Technology can be dangerous in itself, but more often malicious
designers or users use it to manipulate, humiliate, coerce, enslave or kill.

In Black Mirror, the situations are familiar, but are pushed to the extreme, provoking
anxiety, destruction and even death. Each episode is independent, with its own universe
and style, though clues sometimes link them. The topics covered include the obsession
with celebrities, reality TV, social networks, video games, smartphones, and
pornography; the end of private life; robots and androids; social and commercial
profiling; fake news and opinion manipulation; dating sites and matching systems;
immersive augmented reality; cybersecurity and cyberbullying; the transfer of memory
or consciousness into a machine; and transhumanism.

One of the most iconic Black Mirror episodes is season 1, episode 2, “Fifteen Million
Merits”. It presents a world close to the description of philosopher Herbert Marcuse, in
which humanity is enslaved by mass media, advertising and industry. The main
character, Bing, spends his days pedalling an exercise bike in front of a television screen,
like the whole of the middle class. He earns credits, called “merits”, to buy products or
services. In this materialistic society, where technology dominates and corrupts,
everyone is constantly being filmed. Reality TV and gaming are the only entertainment,
and fame the only ambition. Not using pornography is a crime. Although Bing wants to
revolt and denounce the system that oppresses him, he eventually becomes part of it,
abandoning his morals for a comfortable life.

Exercise 1: Read the text about the TV programme Black Mirror and decide if the
following statements are true or false

1. Black Mirror deals with true events.

2. It looks at how technology affects society.
3. It is a continuing story with many episodes.
4. It tends to have a pessimistic view of the future.
5. The creator was influenced by other TV programmes.
 6. It is set in the future, many years from now.

Exercise 2: Answer the following questions about the text

1. What is Black Mirror about?

2. When was Black Mirror first launched?
3. Where do Black Mirror stories take place?
4. Why are viewers so fascinated about the series?
5. Why is black mirror considered science-fiction?
6. How does the TV series depict technology?

Exercise 3: Complete the table below. Use the description of black mirror to indicate
what elements of the TV show, Technology, and real society are fascinating and
disturbing.

Black Mirror Technology Real Society

Fascinating

Disturbing Because technology

is hostile and can
lead to death.

Exercise 4 : Read the last paragraph and complete the sentences

1. A merit is a …
2. People gain merits by …
3. People used merits to …
4. Reality TV consists of …
5. Technology dominates people by …
6. Technology corrupts people by …