The Philosophy of Black Mirror - Wisecrack Edition

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Black Mirror is one of the most unnerving viewing experiences in recent memory. And around the Wisecrack office, watching Black Mirror goes hand in hand with having a panic attack. But why does this show evoke such a sense of dread? Unlike other shows about technology and future dystopias, Black Mirror taps in to something eerily familiar to our everyday world. In this Wisecrack Edition, we dive in to the work of prophetic French philosopher Guy Debord to better understand an idea that permeates Black Mirror, as well as our own society- spectacle. Drawing from Debord’s landmark text “The Society of the Spectacle,” we explore how Black Mirror holds up a MIRROR (see what we did there?) to our current social predicament: namely, the ways in which technology not only mediates our relationships with other humans, but also the world around us.
= Watch Jared's Favorite Episodes! =
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Philosophy of LOGAN ► wscrk.com/LoganWE
Philosophy of The JOKER ► wscrk.com/JokerWE
Philosophy of SZECHUAN SAUCE ► wscrk.com/SzhnScWE
Philosophy of GET OUT ► wscrk.com/GtOtWE
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Written by: Benoit Lelievre and Alec Opperman
Narrated by: Jared Bauer
Directed by: Camille Lecoq
Edited by: Mark Potts
Assistant Editor: Andrew Nishimura
Motion Graphics by: Drew Levin
Produced by: Emily Dunbar
© 2017 Wisecrack, Inc.

[@KLLWCH]

My interpretation of Black Mirror's philosophy is simple: we're all fucked.

[@Michallote]

K1LL 5W17CH yeah... as if we weren't going to die anyway, some deep intelligent insight

[@Redmoto057]

Sounds pretty accurate

[@youneskasdi]

Humanity was always fucked, but i would say we are less fucked than before

[@caidencolin1364]

@Jamie Aryan Yea, been using InstaFlixxer for since november myself =)

[@takyia9353]

not me

[@louischiasson8522]

"Breakdowns of individual episodes" ummmmm YES PLEASE

[@knaengt]

All of them! Every single one!

[@joypopoola6115]

knaengt what I felt awesome

[@sandwichwithoutsand3813]

Louis Chiasson what's the episode where the guy has a spider body or something

[@louischiasson8522]

Sandwich without sand r u thinking of Playtest

[@rtierney1825]

playtest

[@Agostoic]

The series is a pun itself reflecting on how we're already there, hence the black mirror revealing it.

[@michaelweintraub3858]

woah... you're right

[@teethgrinder83]

Julio Agosto yep-you've either been following Brooker since his early days or your highly intuitive-either way you've hit the nail on the head

[@Twitch380]

The director himself said "Black Mirror" is a cellphone/computer screen when its off, all you see is you looking back at you in the darkness.

[@scibus2593]

+Andrew Wishon I think it is both

[@underthedeadjohnnybdennis4091]

Julio Agosto aha I like that..never even thought about that even though so obvious now

[@1MateoTheGreat1]

Nosedive is the most powerful episode of this show IMO. It's so hyper-realistic that it feels the most unsettling.

[@SuperDanny1016]

Mateocubs Nope, everyone knows San Junipero is!

[@Laurie12SlimShady]

Mateocubs i'd have to say "be right back" is it for me, downright miserable

[@michaelweintraub3858]

I'm starting on my first binge watch of the series and watched nosedive first, and so far it's been the most powerful for me

[@TyrosReloaded]

As a gamer that likes to travel, I'd have to give it to 'Playtest'

[@spenserbolte1390]

But did you notice that Nosedive is really just the Meow Meow Beans episode of Community, which came out first?

[@bargains002]

YES, BREAK DOWN EVERY EPISODE INDIVIDUALLY

[@steventitus4399]

Yes, WE MUST GO DEEPER!

[@hydrogen1562]

bargains002 YESSSSSS

[@DranoDreamwalker]

He acctually did. If you want to learn more about mass psychology, search for it.

[@bargains002]

"if you want to see us do some breakdowns of individual episodes let us know in the comments" -voice in video ;)

[@kaiozanette7787]

but he never did

[@marcostowers704]

I feel as if the most realistic episode is "Shut Up and Dance", is the only one where its not exaggerated or an allegory through super high tech. Because it actually happens, where someone can hack you and record you in private and blackmail you. Because of that I found it the most disturbing.

[@ihate2danimationprofiles895]

Marcos Torres same , and that twist

[@Luna-ds7bg]

The ending had me fucked up, staring at my own reflection in a "black mirror" as th credits roll

[@CiorbaAnimation]

the thing is we had a protagonist that isn't that good with tech,i mean he made so many mistakes/irrelevant actions in the beginning: 1.if he didn't want his sister to use his laptop why not put a damn password on the laptop,nooo he should put a lock on the damn door 2.jerking off when you have a damn camera in front of you knowing that minutes ago your pc had a malware 3.never cooperate with hackers(this works the same for National Anthem and their cooperation with the terrorist which was totally illogical),i mean following this guy orders will surely keep you safe,isn't like he can just post whatever shit he has on you on the internet anyway: a)if there was only about a jerk off video,what's the point,in time ppl will forget anyway-isn't like he was in high school or smth b)the problem with him is that he jerked off at kids pictures,but still what evidence is there that he watched photos of kids while jerking off,i mean if you send a screenshot of a desktop and a video that doesn't mean that they correlate c)if he said no,then it will most likely be over,why would the hackers lose time sending that film anyway,you may think because they're trolls,but the whole fun behind that reveal at the end was because he has done so much and that video was still posted(he robbed a fucking bank) The protagonist is insecure,immature,stupid,easy to manipulate and somehow even with his flawed personality he still cares about what ppl think about him.

[@loop3416]

GHhost don't spoil it for everyone else

[@goodasschocolatemilk3907]

GHost The whole point of blackmail is to get someone to feel forced into something because they're panicked. He wasn't stupid he was just irrational because the only thing he could think about was his mom seeing him yank to kiddy porn. You say "never cooperate with hackers" but you would too if you thought your entire life was on the line.

[@karimahnaimah]

How did I miss that black mirror was in reference to screen!!?!!?! I really thought they just meant a literal black mirror. Smh at myself.

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

It's only a black mirror when it's off, which is pretty much never.

[@ColdLazarus12]

I love that it works on multiple levels. The screen reference, the fact that the commentary is a mirror being held up and reflecting society through a very dark tint... awesome.

[@ineffablemars]

or when you turn on youtube dark mode

[@BBrinckmann1992]

I remember understanding the pun of the title for the first time after seeing my own reflection in the screen when I shut down my computer just having watched an episode of Black Mirror.

[@hypeion7707]

K Naimah in white bear that play its like a black mirrior the people see right rew it but the girl cant its a one one mirror

[@RogeriusRex]

A reality show host became President. We are already at the spectacle addicted world of Black Mirror.

[@QuantumPhyZ]

Nasorean Havent we had tons of spectacles? WW2, Cold War, etc. Or even worse, slavement crisis in Sudan due to USA, *with nobody caring about it* . Yemen invasion by Saudi Arabia, ISIS false flags, Erdogan secretly and slowly becoming a ditactor by undercovering with the masses and wanting war with Syria. To me, there is a spectacle way worse than most of the ones that are shown in Black Mirror. Most of us are evil by nature and made to compete so we can live and make the next generatiom better even tough many might die. Thats the truth.

[@scottbranham6396]

Abraham Lincoln won over 200 bare knuckle boxing matches

[@Ironhold_Watch]

Reagan was an actor lol

[@nathanielgarza9198]

Who cares we are in the middle class. We have no political power

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

@@nathanielgarza9198 yes we do

[@fAEtusDeletus]

The first day people start rating people on their phones, I'm becoming a 5 star mass murderer.

[@leonardorossi998]

They already do. Hell, they always did, they never needed a phone.

[@joaomarcelo742]

lulu app

[@eshSam]

We are already doing so my friend..Uber rides? you gotta fake smile and have an awkward convo with your uber driver/rider to get you a good rating

[@MrMcrusty]

Ever heard of facebook?

[@leonardorossi998]

Ush even before facebook, Pirandello talked about it with his concept of masks at the beginning of the 20th century. And it was already an old concept back then.

[@paulcomerford5661]

can you start doing specific episodes of Black Mirror?, it feels like every episode is jam packed with philosophical, Ideological and ethical questions and statements

[@Pooterchu5269]

Dedgynout have you watched any of black mirror? *says a nameless and faceless person on the other side of a screen*

[@writedrunkeditsober]

Fifteen Million Merits is my favourite episode because it is such a brilliant example of the spectacle and Daniel is a great actor!

[@Prowler41]

writedrunkeditsober it honestly hit me hard af.

[@EighteenYearAccount]

It also brillianty incorporates Jean Baudrillard's philosophy and concepts from Herbert Marcuse's philosophy. Have been thinking about writing a paper on it for a long time... hmm. Also, notice that Bing is an analogy to Brooker himself, and that Black Mirror is his "Hot Shots" show. Black Mirror is just another show on Netflix after all. Its criticism of the spectacle has been incorporated into the spectacle (See Marcuse: repressive tolerance) and has been commodified.

[@frederick909]

Mine too! The music was also spectacular!

[@lourdespacheco3700]

Richard Lionheart That’s crazy!! I hadn’t thought of how that episode parallels his reality in that way! Like wtf ?!?!

[@macnsteez3938]

Yep I loved that episode. Disappointingly I have heard many people incl my friends say it's their least favourite but I think it's just because of the confusing ending.. but the acting was some of the best I've seen in the show and the outcome was devastating

[@lominero5]

I say we are already there. The series has too many connections to real life to not realize. The show uses the first 2 episodes for self reference as well. In the first one it shows people always want to see disgusting things where others suffer; as is the show itself. In the second episode when the main character admits that everything is fake he becomes a sellout, sort of a reflection of the show which admits there is something wrong with the current world and our addiction to things on screen. But the show itself is in a screen keeping us distracted so they can make profit and live in nice house and get nice things just like he does at the end. That shows we are already living in that world.

[@lad7436]

Grey Tiger How many? Oh I know! FUCKING NONE! IT'S ACTUALLY SO RETARDED! IT'S DUMB! I SAW ALOT OF IT! IT'S SHIT...

[@joshdunham7167]

@@lad7436 let me educate your ignorant ass a Lil bit. We are already rating each other because but in amount of followers, not in stars, and all the people in corporate are being rated in starts quite literally, like you by your Uber driver. Politicians go around shaming organizations and when elected to represent that community, they become the very thing they came to destroy, like Obama. When a logical person makes sence its unsettling and "boring" instead we flock towards the flamboyant fucktard stupid shit because that's entertaining like Kanye , taylor swift, Justin Bieber over kid Cudi, lorde, Colter wall. We are constantly trying to be something we are not to show other people so that they'd like us and we eventually get depressed cause it. We have created virtual worlds and rather stay there than live in the real world like in Minecraft or pubg, moreover, we'd rather live inside our heads making up situations than fix our real life even if it's a life or death situation. I could go on and on and on because black mirror is not something metaphorical, it's literal. They have to exaggerate the technology because nobody wants to accept that mobile phones, Instagram and all that stuff is ruining us but when it's in future we're quick to jumb on the high moral ground. Educate yourself, or at least watch the show because commenting retarted shit on someone's perfectly logical comment.

[@linus855]

TheMofoHeister wake up dude

[@squib9682]

@@lad7436 ima remind you of this, idk maybe you'll cringe lol

[@karlmarx1847]

@@lad7436 my turn to remind you of this :)

[@TB1Rd100]

I definitely want to see some breakdowns of the individual episodes! Great video!

[@valloyola]

Taylor Newkirk like what they did with Star Wars and breaking bad?

[@davideparis8039]

"guzzling a Pepsi makes you an activist" I DIED

[@Tritonite5]

Thank you for adding subtitles, the hearing impaired really benefit from this. Since you're doing that, could you please add subtitles for the video snippets as well? The clips from shows are much harder to hear and understand than the narrator, as they have accents and are tinged with emotion :)

[@Josh-hi2ti]

Would like to chime in and also express my gratitude for the subtitles!

[@ColdLazarus12]

Same!

[@TornaDoza]

Agree.

[@sheeesh404]

The ending of San Junipero wasn't meant to be optimistic. It was about how in an attempt to create heaven using technology, all we are doing is making a society where people go crazy just to feel a vestige of emotion, a purgatory.

[@kotaowens6978]

The Private Select I thought the same thing!

[@josawesome1]

The Private Select Charlie Brooker has gone on record saying that the notion that it’s a depressing ending is “bullshit”

[@nicolasriveros943]

The Private Select excactly! Finally somebody who gets ir!

[@owlnemo]

The way I understood it, the San Junipero place is indeed about that and it's what most people there do. It still has a positive ending in my opinion, because two people find something real in this world of illusion and artificial pleasure. Yorkie is finally okay with being herself and truly bond with someone, and Kelly - knowing full well that SJ is merely senseless fun and illusion - makes a conscious and well-thought-out choice to live there because she realises that, while almost all of SJ is fake, the love she shares with Yorkie is real. The story of San Junipero isn't about an ideal world. It's a touch of hope in a bleak world, and that's what makes it a happy episode. Hope that there will always be something real and meaningful in a honest and loving human relationship, no matter the context.

[@falaflani4831]

Also coz those aren't actually people but copies of human consciousness who are like another species altogether, like the 2nd season of westworldA

[@2bsirius]

Excellent video!...Even though it made me want to unplug from all media and escape to a cave with lots of books.

[@diogeneslantern18]

2b Sirius Black Mirror will make you do that :)

[@OZAN220]

I wonder, why does one consider books to be more authentic than media? I am not talking about quality here (shows like black mirror can be much more quality than many books, while books like The Trial (just an example) can be much better than the greatest of shows) but rather I am talking about how they all reflect a different world that you simply can't be in. I am not trying to start an argument but I am simply curious about what you think. They are both commodities in a way and although one is much less accessible (books) that doesn't change the fact that it is a commodity. Again, I am simply curious about what you think.

[@Robert-ji5dk]

Fuck that, I just want to flee into the hills and abandon any remnant of civilisation. It's the only way to be sure.

[@ConriDubhghail]

If I were to hazard a guess, perhaps it's not the medium itself but the context it's experienced in. Books are generally experienced on a much more personal\solitary level. However, with the integration of Social platforms every time you watch a TV show, KZbin video, a show on CrunchyRoll, et cetera, you are typically only a few inches away from comments by other people. You can choose to reply or not on these platforms, but what you can't escape are the ads. And of course Facebook and Twitter exist only as social commodities. When you read a book, it is just you and the book. Dip a toe into electronic media, and you quickly begin to interact with a rapidly expanding number of people and corporations all of which will attempt to shape your perception, knowingly or unknowingly. Gods, I sound like an old man.

[@ThePanuccio]

2b Sirius still spectacle, and you would be looking for some self worth i others. mainly by unplugging and being different.

[@nanjayo8970]

before going cray cray at naynay's wedding

[@caspianhorlick4529]

You should have seen her naenae at nay nays wedding

[@Issaaay260]

Every single episode leaves me thinking about it until the next one. Hats off to whoever writes these.

[@AndresGomez-ct7qb]

Individual breakdowns of individual 'Black Mirror' episodes? Please do. I'd love that. But, what happened to 'The Philosophy of Filthy Frank'? Also, 'The Philosophy of Doug Stanhope' is something I'd love to see, although I might be alone on that one.

[@ashishavale8682]

Andrés Gómez filthy frank for anime adaption

[@DynamicSheep]

Andrés Gómez I second the philosophy of Doug Stanhope!

[@24severn]

Please do one on White Bear and also one on Shut up and Dance! Or even better do them all... love these videos.

[@wherethetatosat]

Daaaamn, going right for the jugular with the 2 most hardcore episodes in the series.

[@PhilipZeplinDK]

Really? White Christmas hit me way more... that was some seriously fucked up shit.

[@24severn]

Philip Zeplin oh I completely forgot! The whole concept of having another you! And how she had to go through how many years with nothing to do 😂

[@snowswinter4662]

Her is also a really thought provoking movie on this issue. I also love what Black Mirror trys to convey to us in every episode. Taking the idea of the technological revolution and it's effects so far is fascinating!

[@glitchygear9453]

Snows Winter Fascinating, but like so much else in science fiction, an intentionally unrealistic extreme, practically fantasy-esque in nature. Classic science fiction was all about bringing normal, everyday things to their most logical conclusions, which is why so many science fiction authors are practically credited with creating everyday concepts like artificial satellites. Modern sci-fi, in contrast, is all about taking stuff to a ridiculous extreme either for the purposes of social commentary or just because "it sounds fun to explore I guess". Black Mirror is also a laughably pessimistic show; just like how optimism is unrealistic and ignores what's best described as common sense, pessimism is equally unrealistic and ignores what's best described as common sense, and there are times when I was watching and repeatedly thinking "someone would've done X or Y by now, in fact here's time and again a similar scenario plays out differently in real life, let me literally look it up because I need to mentally comprehend how socially unrealistic these scenarios are". (Yes I actually did that several times, LOL.) Long story short, it was interesting, but the pessimism led to repeated bursts of melodrama and flat out unrealistic conclusions to scenarios to the point I dropped the series before I even finished the first season. It's fascinating, yes, but also annoyingly inaccurate to life...

[@3002TREX]

I didn't think it was possible but this channel just keeps getting better and better

[@Walterdecarvalh0100]

the philosophy of monthy python

[@AndresGomez-ct7qb]

+Walter Carvalho Hadn't thought about that one. It sounds like a great idea.

[@zickeli7]

★★⭐⭐⭐ It wasn't a meaningful interaction

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

Nosedive made me SO upset because she got fucked over because she had an argument with her bro. How fucked up it was that he gave her one star knowing she's struggling to reach 4.5. I get it's because he was pissed cause she was being an asshole to him, but still :

[@alexandreocadiz9967]

So Waldo is basically Trump

[@AsadtheTutor]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@jamkibble2907]

Critics hated the episode when it first aired claiming it was unrealistic

[@Lazypackmule]

Well, Trump is a real person and also not a nihilist Waldo is something that people in other countries wouldn't really get, but Britain has a lot of made up joke political candidates, and some of them even get pretty close to winning

[@rougevariable8873]

Lazypackmule Lord Buckethead 2020

[@likira111]

more accurate would be the use of pepe.

[@Damheid]

I just love this channel so much! Is the coolest place for learning in youtube! I just made up my mind and Iam going to the patreon site right now!!!

[@thechevyferrari9559]

Hated in the Nation is my favorite, partly because of the Noir style and cyber bees, but mostly because it deals with the tricky business around collectives doing bad things. Do you punish every single person who uses the hashtag DeathTo, or diminish the blame to almost nothing by spreading it so thinly?

[@tacoreal]

The Chevy Ferrari this episode fucked me up but I agree with what you say

[@alexandercastro-vera8641]

Fuck............... why do I watch these when I'm already pessimistic as fuck? Still great episode as usual.

[@lathanandrews417]

I rate this video a 4.3

[@char124eve]

I 99.8% agree with this comment.

[@westshape3998]

Haha, good one ;)

[@shamoonsaqib]

I give these comments a 2.5/5

[@Mxchemba_]

@@shamoonsaqib penis

[@johnpadilla9751]

It needs to be a 4.5 in order to be trending

[@rarrera1409]

Totally love Black mirror's pessimism with technology and having a whole channel dedicated to express those ideas on KZbin is one of the best combinations on a spectacle right now! keep doing this please!

[@D0NU75]

it all comes down to the same shit over and over, people trying to distract themselves to avoid thinking about uncomfortable stuff that will inevitably happen anyway

[@Geoffreyvexer]

Loup Truth.

[@artaiosgreybark2162]

Like watching Black Mirror?

[@josegamboa589]

Guys I have never posted anything before in KZbin in my 8 years of watching KZbin videos almost every single day, and only comment to ask for MORE BLACK MIRROR.....

[@Smorgasvord]

jose gamboa you know that this channel doesn't make Black Mirror right? Your cries are falling on deaf ears.

[@josegamboa589]

PeeJay Torres oh shit I knew I should have learned sign language...

[@RichardDuryea]

Any plans on doing the philosophy of classic Twilight Zone episodes?

[@conucoheights]

this has got to be your best episode ya'll. This one and the one for Bright. I'm using it in my Self, Society and Interpersonal Relations class. wonderful job.

[@GunpowderCoffee]

I am stalking youtube 24/7. Me being here has nothing to do with the notification squad. EDIT: Also early comments are really boring.

[@ShaheerS2]

same. also this is a meaningless comment as well.

[@Jambion]

GunpowderCoffee same here...

[@ThePanuccio]

GunpowderCoffee wait you mean to defend your indepence of mind by stating you dont have a will of your own. neat joke.

[@fireman534]

I fear this is becoming reality

[@984047]

Please tear every single episode down to its core

[@dougnmelo]

hey wisecrack. I think you should do one "philosophy of" exploring each of the black mirror's episodes. Cheers. Congrats for your work on this channel! it's definitely my favourite KZbin channel.

[@codafilms270]

Excellent episode Jared! Only thing I don't understand is why people think the ending of San Junipero is happy, i think it's really bittersweet, i mean you have a woman whos been married for many years with a man who refused to go to the simulated reality beacuse her daughter couldn't make it there, then, in her dying last months she goes to "have fun" before she dies, always thinking she wont stay there beacuse she feels an obligation to her husband and daughter, the show shows us that the people staying there are loosing all sense of reality, they are in a place with no change, no progress, always the same everyday, they become numb with everything (thats why they have this dungeon like club) so when the protagonists decides to stay in San Junipero it is as if her commitment to her husband and daughter was throw out the window fon mindless fun and a 5 minute crush, yeah, she is happy, but, what about her fmaily? What about commiting to somethig? What about making the hard choice? Is all so postmodern that left me a bitthersweet taste in the mouth and the last shot of the machinery it tries to make you think that, like, she chose the irreality, she chose the fantasy over realty, she is just avoiding her commitment for something that feels good and you dont have to think much about it just "enjoy" Don't know, great episode none the less!

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

I'm glad she chose to be with her gf because if not, she pretty much screwed someone over literally forever. She could choose to commit to a standard or ideal, or commit to an actual person she chose to have responsibility over.

[@hiredsword]

The real fantasy is thinking that dying would bring her any closer to her husband or daughter when in reality it's just an end to everything. She can always carry those two in her heart and memory if she goes on but if she dies that's it.

[@sheeesh404]

The ending of San Junipero wasn't meant to be optimistic. It was about how in an attempt to create heaven using technology, all we are doing is making a society where people go crazy just to feel a vestige of emotion, a purgatory.

[@maki1177]

This is a really interesting point! Personally though, I think the ending of San Junipero perfectly showcases the "in heat of the moment" mentality of today's society in which people, as you said, simply run away from reality and the problems and baggages that come along with it.

[@GearheadDaily]

Never seen the show, but I would say by a large margin we are already there.

[@lucyhannah1227]

I agree, it's essentially a caricatured reflection of reality. kind of like a fun house mirror.

[@GearheadDaily]

Good call, I just started watching it yesterday and its scary how accurate most of it is. :)

[@fife007]

Yes do a breakdown of every Black Mirror episode! I've been craving for Black Mirror videos!

[@joshcarson2879]

This is one of my favorite episodes of "Philosophy of...", more episodes like this, please!

[@Raphael_Bizmann]

This is probably one of the best episodes yall made. keep it up! Also, I agree with other users. Do some philosophy videos on some of the individual episodes.

[@gianni206]

No on ALL individual episodes

[@NASDRM2321]

Fargo! you have to make an episode about fargo now that it ended!

[@parasadhikari351]

Maor Fadlon I second this

[@JewTube001]

S3 ended, but they'll probably be another season. Also all the seasons are self contained, so he should do an ep on each season.

[@sharstarg2414]

Maor Fadlon LITERALLY, a breakdown of EACH SEASON would be fantastic!!!!

[@Outpost31Research]

Maor Fadlon, Dude Yessss! It just sucks how we wont get season 4 until like 3 years from now due to Hawleys busy ass schedule. The man is a goddamn artist.

[@cuacles2328]

I must say Jared, great episode, I normally stopped watching this channel, but I will definitely check out this show at some point.

[@yipiable]

the breakdown of individual episodes is a brilliant idea, please do it!

[@dannieltaylor5833]

Do I think we've already achieved a "Black Mirror-like" society with a little less technology? Well, considering the first episode of Black Mirror Season 3 (Nosedive) made me almost physically ill until the point that I couldn't even finish it, says we have a ways to go, I think. I know I'm not the only one that watching all the fake, unnerving reactions and monumental consequences to minor social fuck-ups gave them the feeling of wanting to vomit, and I'm sure that it was intentional that it was supposed to make us feel that way... or at least some of us. I'm pretty sure it's more like a warning, of what happens when what we have now is taken to the extreme.

[@serenatortellini7927]

Danniel taylor Nosedive is definitely allegorical. It, like lots of other episodes, takes an idea to an extreme to illustrate a point. I don't think we are ever being our true, authentic selves when we're around or interact with most people. We all already pre-judge each other on superficial merits (wealth, race, national identity, physical appearance, etc). American citizens are judged by the elite with credit scores, based on the meaningless idea of how well they pay off debt. Everyone puts on a facade in order to please as many people as possible while they simultaneously are pitted against each other in a competition for artificially limited resources. They have no choice or else they'll be ejected from society and possibly become a pariah. So nosedive is not so much a warning as it is a dark reflection of how society functions today. Thus, a Black Mirror.

[@quiznak]

Danniel taylor 9

[@Theocracy8]

Not taken to an extreme but is actually happening. Technology advances every month or so, what black mirror shows is merely a fraction of what our technology will reach in few years time. In reality things will be much worse than Nosedive I'm afraid. Nothing is taken to an extreme. If anything the producers are being gently.

[@lamargordon6017]

Honestly Nosedive is the most disturbing episode to me. I'm a sarcastic and impatient. I literally couldn't survive in a world like that. A few minor social errors in that society actually actually effect your way of living. People can easily and casually ruin your life just by giving you a bad rating.

[@scottbranham6396]

The ending 5 minutes is the best part.

[@dominickjasso5500]

yes the parallels of the waldo episode and real life right now in american politics is eerily similar so yes please!! every episode is worth your philosophical breakdown.

[@johneysz89]

11:43 Very superficial interpretation. The inhabitants of San Junipero are forever stuck in a nostalgic porno that they can never escape from. Most of the inhabitants eventually end up in "The Quagmire" where they gradually get into more extreme types of fetishism in an attempt to recapture the aliveness they once felt arriving there. But they are never able to do so because they are forever stuck in the same "bodies" with the same minds doomed to live the same day over and over (until the servers crash). The inability to accept ones own death is the hallmark flawed human being, there is nothing optimistic about it.

[@mmilcz833]

I’m about in the middle of black mirror and I was binging it alone because everyone I knew thought it was too depressing to watch. After a few episodes I feel completely miserable (considering the fact that I have clinical depression, that is actually something dangerous for my well being) so I opened this video, just the beginning to feel some kind of reassurance of normality and to put the show in perspective. Black mirror is painful to watch in the best and worst way and I have to watch it because it feels essential, like those documentaries exposing McDonald’s. It’s depressing, scary but makes you aware of what is, or maybe will be, happening. Sorry for that, probably no one will read it but I just needed to put this out there…

[@azz20103]

The video is 1234 long

[@Narveloz]

another spectacle?

[@mitchellwitcher8972]

Neato

[@Per_Sun]

Spectacluminatti

[@azz20103]

shut up and consume the illusion that has been established

[@boxtears]

I didn't expect to come away from this with a better understanding of how Trump won. Huh.

[@cm01]

Trump won because he was up against Hillary, plain and simple. This is a woman who stole $100,000 of furniture from the white house. I mean an absolutely balls to the wall insane woman. The problem is that most people who weren't politically aware when Bill was in office don't know any of that strange crap because she managed to bury it so well.

[@cm01]

I'm very confident that Trump won't have a second term, because he's alienated most of his support base in one way or another (such as alienating 2A purists like myself when he banned bump stocks and trigger cranks) and hasn't done his big ticket items in general. Sure, he boosted ICE funding, but compare his actual deportation numbers and southern border security numbers to Obama. Obama was more serious about the Southern Border than Trump. The Dem nominee would need to be someone as bad as Hillary for him to win in 2020.

[@bamby7766]

@@cm01 Agreed.

[@Sam-ol9uk]

bernie 2020

[@Jellyman1129]

@@cm01 The reason why Obama has better immigration numbers is because of catch and release, something Trump got rid of.

[@jamesmoss3036]

You are so diligent. Really impressive stuff!

[@dysectorza]

Individual breakdown of each episode of Black Mirror! YES PLEASE!

[@marshmellow9281]

Fifteen Million Merits is like the 2nd best episode of any show I've ever seen.

[@Benjipojk]

Here's a clue about if we are heading towards a "black mirror dystopia": How did Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton become presidential candidates?

[@s.g.7572]

and HERCULES MULLIGAN

[@NoobLord9001]

Ali Koç congratulations, you've missed the point.

[@Lazypackmule]

Trump became a candidate through spectacle and populism, which is accurate I guess, but Hillary became a candidate through underhanded schemes and dirty politics, which isn't something Black Mirror really focuses on Well, you could say that even Trump only got ahead due to that same corruption, since he won the nomination in part due to Hillary and the DNC setting him up to win since they thought him being their opponent would be a sure win for them

[@funyarinpa336]

Lazypackmule It is only partially true that the show doesn't focus on the Clinton side of the election. In fact it does just that without going too deep into corruption but the things that are supposed to distract you from corruption. Just like the other candidate that wasn't Waldo used to gain votes through hollow spectacles ("Watch me shake common peoples hands like I'm one of them eventhough I really consider myself better and hate touching them." and "Watch me take a picture next to orphans eventhough I don't give a fuck about orphans."). He was used to distracting people from his policies by giving them something nice to watch an argue about instead. This is exactly what Hillary was trying to do. She never tried to actually win the primaries with her policies and didn't care if she was revealed to be a liar or changed her opinion twice a week. All she banked on was that the idea of "the first female president" would carry her into the white house. She was a living spectacle with barely any values running against an actual politician focussed on politics (Sanders) and she won because spectacle wins. But then Waldo (a.k.a. Trump) came along and had even less values but even more spectacle, so he basically won for the same reason she won the primaries. The episode isn't supposed to show that career politicians and "living meme" politicians are total opposites but rather that career politicians turned politics from serious business into nothing but showmanship in order to then be beaten because other people are better at giving their audience a show.

[@Lazypackmule]

I wouldn't say Trump had less values, he had pretty strong nationalistic positions, it's just that he relied more on emotional hype winning people over than any logical thought out arguments, which still makes him comparable to Waldo, just not on the angsty "fuck the system" nihilism part Though to be fair, a lot of the people who saw through Trump's salesman schtick but still still supported him did so for exactly those kinds of nihilistic reasons, thinking a shakeup that big could be the only shot we'd ever get to help the system in the long term

[@robbielongpre4801]

..would DEFINATELY love to see more thorough breakdowns of individual episodes.

[@conorclive8556]

Breakdown each individual episode please! Amazing work

[@flowstate5465]

Five Million Merits to me is Black Mirror's interpretation of memes. Bing instantly becomes a meme and decides to embrace it. In essence, he wanted to wake people up and feel a sense of something real in the world. He worked his ass off after he failed to bring that to Abi to send a message. He only went on stage to share how he felt and attempt to break through oppressive societal influences. He tried his hardest to stimulate anyone who had even a lick of empathy with his message. Unfortunately the thick blanket of societal norms allowed for one single judge to influence the entire crowds perception of him. The irony of the whole thing to bring this full circle is that he was still offered a show. Even more ironic is that he then accepts the show and lives lavishly, profiting from the very thing he wished to stray from, by embracing the fact that people would never truly accept his message at face value. He embraced this acceptance, decided not to kill himself and now embraces the society that he had initially hated so much. Similar to how an unfortunate event can go viral and make someone famous through meme culture.

[@sigilsonny7701]

This is so true I got goosebumps

[@MrBern-ex3wq]

I believe we're all but one step away from Black Mirror's dystopia, and it's the fact that there's still people who think out there. People who, even if they partake on the whole spectacle business, are not addicted to it. People that can just drop it because they feel like it. But more importantly, people that can SEE it's happening. The problem is not the progress of technology itself, unlike that most shows like this tend to point at, but how we're using them. Technology is a tool. You can't blame a tool for how it's being used. It's humanity that's the problem. The vast majority of the masses are too complacent and intellectually numbed. They prefer to live in a world of minimum effort where reason and facts are replaced with emotion and opinion. All too ready to just be moved along by the current without having to think and blaming all their actions on some external factor because they refuse to think. And they refuse to think because they don't want to take responsibility for their actions and are, bluntly, too lazy to think. But that's not all of us. And that's why I think we're not there yet. There is still people like the Wisecrack people and all us philosophy lovers who do think and see what's wrong. We just need to act on it on whatever scale we can.

[@BarezMardukhi]

Love your channel! Would also love to see more breakdowns of the some of the "Black Mirror" episodes.

[@Artliker1234]

I've been asking for this forever

[@alphacause]

As always, this was an excellent analysis. Black Mirror is one of the most innovative shows on television, and it really is geared towards the contemplative mind. On a side note, I love how you cite, as examples of the commodification of spectacle, the rivalry that people display through sports teams and people's fixation with reality TV, like Desperate Housewives. In my opinion, few people exemplify a weak minded mentality more than those who fall for the tribalism that exists in sports culture or people who are preoccupied with the mundane conflicts of so called "reality TV", which is anything but real.

[@strangerjones5576]

I especially love how "Nosedive" effectively satirized how today people are obsessed with social media. At first, I felt the episode was over the top, but then I realized: THAT WAS THE POINT.

[@ipadbossbaby4558]

/r/iamverysmart

[@IkeOkerekeNews]

Drake Santiago There is nothing special about you. You are just as bad as anyone around you.

[@glitchygear9453]

Stranger Jones Even if over the top is the point it's still a consistently over the top show, I've never been able to finish more than a few episodes.

[@samueltaylor7482]

You're not that smart. Or special.

[@skyhikes]

I prefer the truth even if it hurts me, even if it kills me, because even if it kills me, I know that my actions will affect the world no matter how small I am. This is the law of preservation.

[@YoungTheFish]

One of these days, people like you will save my hope and sanity. Thanks for being around.

[@skyhikes]

YoungTheFish we're in this together.

[@EFlatcap]

But what if the truth is that your actions do not affect the world? DUN DUN DUNNNNN P.S. Good comment though

[@-lijosu-]

Im with WisePictWarrior on this. Call me pessimistic but the truth I was given is that nothing really changes, and people with power will do everything they can using their power to stop you from trying even though your efforts are likely fruitless anyway. Ill establish the difference between the smaller things in life and the gigantic things though. It will always be worth it to change the smaller things, like eating the right foods and exercising the right amount. Avoiding propoganda ridden media and knowing when youre seeing it. But the bigger things never change, and are stuck for the most part in a continual loop. Things like descrimination, overwhelming dependancy of human beings on others, and so much more. Because in those cases, fixing one problem is really just conditioning to cause others. A prime example would be the fight against sexism. Yes, women have been oppressed for quite a while now, but were reaching the point where people are so catering for SPECIFICALLY women that men are very quickly being completely ignored targets for sexism, or even becoming more frequent targets than women themselves. And astoundingly only a VERY SMALL handful of people actually see this happening. And even while people are fighting hard against sexism and racism (and failing as previously mentioned) assholes who dont know any better are still finding it very hard to understand mental illness. And so as it stands the mentally ill (which take up a HUGE majority of people in the world) in all shapes and sizes are now arguably THE MOST discriminated against... Wonder how long itll take to fix that one up... Another few centuries maybe? Sounds accurate to me... Then when thats sorted out well probably have to fight for rights of men instead. As we all know, the truth aint pretty ;)

[@skyhikes]

WisePictWarrior Thanks, but the truth is that we don't recognize the consequences of what we're. For example, to study the moment of an object (A rock or lazy person) you need a reference because technically everything is moving, but the you the rock is still. Your existence affects the world, you just have to choose to do more.

[@SDBRiCKS]

It's cool how Wisecrack pulls these philosophers that I've never heard of out of the dark.

[@DaLoler1]

Thank you for introducing me to this show.

[@Blank-np5kr]

“Farewell forever, until the same time next week” Me playing any competitive game and losing

[@concernedclimbers]

Yes do every episode individually!

[@rain0069]

Nicholas Gariepy Id thub you up but it wouldn't be genuine 😊😣

[@lyla0775]

i could watch an entire series about: - the two detectives from Hated in The Nation - the kid and the guy from Shut Up and Dance

[@jamai39]

"Breakdowns of individual episodes" - well cannot wait!!!

[@micahmackenzie]

OMG> PLEASE DO OKJA!!!!! I'm going to go lay back down and cry now*

[@tanakariza5336]

Jarred, can you please do an episode breaking down San Junipero?!!! I, of course would love to see a breakdown of all black mirror episodes, but that one is the one I see least talked about and I think it's because it has such a different tone than the rest of the series. You already got started in this video by saying that the VR in that episode is more like heaven than a loss of self. I would love to hear more of what you have to say.

[@TheGoldenDunsparce]

A lot of people seem to really like San Junipero and White Bear. SJ was okay - if it were a full length movie, I'd pay to watch it - but White Bear made me go, "Oh. Okay. I get it, but meh." while it apparently blew other peoples' minds. I think Playtest and Be Right Back were most impacting for me. Fifteen Million Merits was the most upsetting though. If I ever rematch the series with a friend, I'd skip that one because the ending made me want to die... :'

[@kaiozanette7787]

please break down every episode these are each a goldmine of content

[@readyupswag]

Black Mirror is such a great show and I'm so glad you guys made this video, I'd kill to see a video about San Junipero, seriously.

[@SavvyDrifter]

I would love to see a break down of White Christmas. It was probably the EP that shook me the hardest.

[@rosewhite9476]

Just watched it and I feel sick

[@processismessy3027]

I've always struggled watching BM because it's a little too dark and "real" (for want of a better word). However, this video was highly informative, and has urged me to give the show another try.

[@EmceeDrew]

i still can't watch it no matter how much i really do like it. Way too creepily real for me.

[@thisisEHAM]

Scripts Are Queens i would say the near-realism is what makes the show so gripping

[@JewTube001]

Agreed, the show is just so fucking depressing. It's good though.

[@Werewolf914]

I don't find it creepy or scary at all, sure in the near future some of it would be terrifying to live through, but some of the episodes are more of good things, such as White Bear, San Junipero, and Shut Up and Dance, which I don't know seems like a good way to use technology.

[@EatonEmmerich]

The problem is that is isn't real, and the show requires you to believe it is.

[@JohnSmith-ye1do]

Please do more of black mirror!!! IDC which ones, they all creeped me out. The final one with the death polls and robotic bees was my favorite!

[@xtingwisher]

I fucking love this "The Philosophy of" series, best thing on this channel it's exciting just to get a notification of a new one being uploaded, even if it's something I haven't watched.

[@abcdontkillme]

This was such a good episode, god bless wisecrack

[@ReggieHarrisorangemonkey]

I'd like to see a breakdown of EVERY episode of Black Mirror, but I'd say I want San Junipero the most if I have to choose.

[@theren8311]

Reggie Harris Why? What was special about it? It's just a couple living in simulated reality. It really wasn't as deep as any of the other episodes. You'll see people try to explain how "deep" it is, but really they're just digging for "philosophy" to make it seem like it was.

[@ruudhollenberg]

Brake down the episode PLAYTEST. That one really got me in the heart because the main protagonist and me are so like.

[@ladynottingham89]

One of my favorite TV shows. Do every episode please

[@hppotheprofit4959]

Created a channel because having a "breakdown of individual episodes" is very important Hopefully you'll hit on a lot of the smaller philosophical questions.

[@iquemedia]

Do a whole episode on San Junipero pls&ty

[@matthewdrummond1340]

Now I really want to watch this show. Thanks for introducing me #Wisecrack .

[@storey662]

I've been waiting for this one for sooo long. I think we all realize that Black Mirror is such a widely appreciated show because of the small (and sometimes, not-so-small) amount of truth embedded in the fiction. Every single episode depicts things that we can all sort of imagine happening in the near future if even one aspect of our humanity or society is ignored or allowed to slip. Spectacle really and truly is the only way to describe or define our reality nowadays. The news is controlled by the ratings, the entertainment is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator, they're playing fabricated reality shows on the History Channel, and everyone would rather post a picture of a staged "great day" on instagram than have an actual conversation about the reality of their day with another person. Black Mirror is so good because it's so possible, which horrifies most of us to the very core. But what are you gonna do? Turn off your phone? Not watch Pawn Stars? Refuse to participate in what the rest of the world considers reality?

[@joseph23ification]

Philosophy of Samurai Jack anyone?

[@TheFoolishSamurai]

Wisecrack: Discusses the concept of allowing prossessions and spectacles to control us. Comments: Rants off about economic systems and other unrelated things.

[@comrademackerel2391]

Neo Machine economic systems are actually pretty relevant considering Debord put a huge focus on them

[@okultra_exe9240]

wisecrack: "spectacle is now a commodity" "spectacle is born when the economy invades the very fabric of our social lives" "bing pointlessly rides a bike to accumulate virtual currency that he can only use on necessities, entertainment, or his 'me'" comment: ugh stop trying to bring economics into unrelated things!

[@mstr293]

This video made me watch the whole show without even watching this first! I KNOW THAT IF WISECRACK UPLOADS A PHILOSOPHY VIDEO ABOUT SOMETHING, IT'S BOUND TO BE AWESOME! #THANKSWISECRACK

[@mrscribblestix]

Great episode, fellas. Well done, good job.

[@The_Doug__Side]

Philosophy of Twin Peaks!!!!!!

[@alistairthegoodwitch9496]

Doug garrett YES! BEAT ME TO IT!

[@Joel-bg3cf]

I don't think San Junipero was meant to be optimistic. I don't think it was a coincidence that final images of them happily living life inside the machine was intercut with images of warehouse filled with servers.

[@laela6289]

Joel smades EXACTLY

[@Deathbunny600]

Ya I think he missed the part about the people that were going crazy in the simulation because they couldn't feel anything anymore.

[@TheAgavi]

Existing inside a server vs outside in what (for all we know) might be another server is a pretty trivial difference.

[@joaomarcelo742]

agreed.

[@TehPompkinHead]

eh i kinda feel like it's a horseshit cop-out to think we're just "in a server room" like sure *_maybe_* but undoubtedly it's far more unique and inexplicable compared to the one in san-junipero @Reform Project

[@GuilhermeHarrison]

Simply the best video on Black Mirror on this website

[@DynamicSheep]

We're not there yet, but we're not far off, and that's the horrifying beauty of Black Mirror. Please do more on this series!

[@TheMightyPika]

I'd say the second main theme of Black mirror is punishment. Sometimes spectacle and punishment are combined (White Bear).

[@joshdunham7167]

You are late pal, this has already happened countless times, remember the story about the chick on the plane who made a joke about aids and Africa? He life was a mesely entertainment for people and some of them going so far as saying she should be raped and recently Kevin hart not being able to get the gig comedians work their life off because he did not comply with Twitter raping him while we begs to everyone. Black mirror is not an exaggeration, it's literal. It's impossible to make people see that they are torturing people in real life without taking a whole different approach and ones they see the episode they go tweet how bad future is gonna be.

[@attackonthug6653]

Please do a wisecrack edition on death note!

George Orwell's favourite soul cycle class 🤣🤣 This video was epic, thumbs up for sure 😁

[@thegeekclub8810]

Breakdowns of individual episodes would be AWESOME!

[@SirGeeeO]

Are we in hell? Waldo is nothing compared to our current leadership

[@wellingtonboobs7985]

_Are we in hell?_ You only just worked it out? Political Christians believe so little in their own religion they had to make hell and its sufferings for the poor, the ill, the unfortunate and the downtrodden in this life.

[@acnelson75]

Purgatory.